A Taiwanese delegation will take part in a trial ferry route connecting Suao in Eastern Taiwan with the Japanese island of Yonguni in July. That’s according to Legislative speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) who announced the trip during a radio interview on Thursday. You said that the delegation had initially planned to travel to the small island on June 10th, but it has been rescheduled to July 4th due to the Japanese parliament recess.
Yonaguni is the westernmost island of Japan and makes up part of Okinawa Prefecture. It is also the island closest to Taiwan, only about 110 kilometers from Taiwan’s east coast. Yonaguni has a population of about 1700 people and is known for its beaches and diving.
You says the trip is a trial run to test the feasibility of such a route for tourists from Japan and Taiwan. He says the ferry would allow Japanese tourists visiting the far west of their country to add Taiwan to their itinerary by adding just one extra day. He notes that although Japan and Taiwan share many bonds, many people do not realize how close they are to each other. He adds that the route can lead to closer relations between Japan and Taiwan and be beneficial for Yonaguni’s economy.
Source : RTI
