The China Post
Date: May 3, 2017
By: Joseph Yeh

A quasi-official organization set up by Taiwan to handle Taiwan-Japan relations will soon change its name to add the words “Taiwan” and “Japan” to its official title to signify reaching a new level of bilateral relations, according to a Taiwanese official.

The name of Taiwan’s Association of East Asian Relations (AEAR, 亞東關係協會), which handles bilateral affairs in the absence of official ties, will soon be changed to the Association of Taiwan-Japan Relations (台灣日本關係協會), Tsai Ming-yaw (蔡明耀) — outgoing head of the association — said at a news briefing on Tuesday.

The name change will take place very soon, Tsai said. Tsai refused to confirm whether or not Japanese officials would be invited to Taiwan to join the ceremony, saying only that preparations are being made but no final decisions have been reached.

“The name change is to make people understand the function of the association in the hope that Taiwan-Japan relations can elevate to the next level,” he said.
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