Survey shows strong Japanese affinity for Taiwan, contrasts with attitudes toward China

A recent public opinion survey has revealed sustained goodwill among the Japanese public towards Taiwan, with 74.5 percent of respondents saying they feel a sense of closeness to the country. The data was released by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in Japan on 1 December, 2025.

The survey, conducted by Central Research Services between 24 and 28 October, gathered responses from 1,000 Japanese citizens aged between 20 and 89. It found that 63.6 percent of respondents consider Taiwan a trustworthy country, and 68.5 percent believe that Taiwan and Japan currently maintain good relations.

According to TECRO Representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋), the poll results demonstrate a clear distinction made by the Japanese public between Taiwanese and Chinese people. He expressed gratitude to the Japanese public for understanding that Taiwan is separate and different from China in terms of culture, values, and governance.

Although the 74.5 percent figure indicates strong positive sentiment, it represents a slight decline from the 76.6 percent recorded in 2023. It is also lower than the 81 percent of Taiwanese who expressed feelings of closeness towards Japan in a separate poll conducted by the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in April.

Nevertheless, Lee reaffirmed TECRO’s commitment to enhancing Taiwan-Japan exchanges, stating that continued collaboration across multiple fields is necessary to further strengthen Taiwan’s international image.

Lee also highlighted the contrast between Taiwan-Japan relations and the more strained Japan-China dynamic. He referred to last year’s Japan-China Public Opinion Poll, which showed that 89 percent of Japanese respondents held negative views of China, while 87.7 percent of Chinese respondents viewed Japan unfavourably.

The 2025 edition of the Japan-China poll, conducted jointly by a Japanese civic group and the Chinese government, has not yet been published and has reportedly been postponed twice.

In the TECRO poll, when asked to select which Asian country they felt the most affinity towards, 44 percent of Japanese respondents chose Taiwan—placing it at the top of the list.

Respondents associated Taiwan with Japan-friendly sentiments (73.5 percent), good food (43 percent), shared historical ties (36.5 percent), rich tourism resources (26.1 percent), global recognition for semiconductors (23.7 percent), and support for democracy and freedom (19.7 percent).

The poll also explored the reasons behind the favourable perceptions. Of those who felt close to Taiwan, 72.3 percent cited the friendliness of Taiwanese people, 40.5 percent noted the long-standing bilateral exchanges, and 31.4 percent pointed to strong economic ties.

Those who regarded Taiwan as trustworthy cited the following reasons: its friendly stance towards Japan (69.7 percent), shared democratic values (50.8 percent), historical connections (37.7 percent), peaceful nature (33 percent), and role as an economic and trade partner (31 percent).

When asked about areas where Taiwan and Japan should deepen exchanges, 46.2 percent chose tourism, 45.2 percent identified the economy, and 40.3 percent pointed to political and security cooperation.

On issues of concern, 49.6 percent of respondents expressed worry over the impact of cross-strait tensions on Japan. Other concerns were notably lower, with 9 percent mentioning territorial disputes and 7.2 percent citing economic competition.

The survey also assessed views on regional peace and stability. A majority (54.5 percent) identified diplomatic dialogue as essential. Other key responses included establishing Japan-US-Taiwan cooperation (36.1 percent), strengthening Japan’s defence (34 percent), active US involvement in Taiwan’s defence (25.4 percent), and bolstering Taiwan’s self-defence capabilities (24.5 percent).

Notably, 59.3 percent of respondents had recently seen Taiwan-related news, particularly on military activity in the Taiwan Strait (64.9 percent), Taiwanese cuisine (48.9 percent), semiconductor developments (38.1 percent), and tourism and culture (37.1 percent).

Regarding Taiwan’s participation in global institutions, 61.7 percent of respondents said they were aware of China’s obstruction of Taiwan’s international involvement. In response, 64.8 percent supported Taiwan’s inclusion in bodies such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Only 2.8 percent opposed Taiwan’s participation.

The survey was part of a long-standing series of polls commissioned by TECRO since 2016. Initially conducted annually, the survey has been held biennially since 2021. The latest edition was carried out online, marking a shift from the previous telephone survey method.

Lee Yi-yang concluded that the findings reflect Japan’s consistent support and recognition of Taiwan’s unique identity and role in the region, calling for continued mutual efforts to promote a robust and multidimensional partnership.