Shaken but Not Broken: Taiwanese and Japanese Experts Unite 25 Years After Devastating 921 Earthquake to Forge a Resilient Future
Building Resilience: Taiwan and Japan Unite on 25th Anniversary of 921 Earthquake
- Time: 2024-09-21 11:28
- News Excerpt: Interview
- Writing Editor: Wu Lijun
Today, on the 25th anniversary of the September 21st earthquake, the “Resilience Creation-Taiwan and Japan Earthquake-Disaster Community Reconstruction Forum” was held in Puli, Nantou. Former Dean of Examinations Huang Rong-kun, who once served as executive director of the 921 Reconstruction Promotion Committee of the Executive Yuan, emphasized the deep relationship between Taiwan and Japan in the face of earthquake disasters.
The forum, held at Jinan International University, brought together 21 scholars and experts from Taiwan to discuss “resilient disaster prevention”, “resilient reconstruction”, and “resilience building”. The event aimed to exchange experiences in dealing with disasters between Taiwan and Japan.
Huang Rong-kun highlighted the long-standing exchange and concern between Taiwan and Japan, despite the challenges posed by earthquakes. He noted that the 921 disaster area had entered the third stage of reconstruction, focusing on community perseverance and public-private cooperation. Huang emphasized the importance of managing this phase well, looking to the future, and cooperating with Japan.
Takaya Hattori, deputy representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, pointed out that both Japan and Taiwan have suffered from frequent earthquakes, leading to deep mutual trust and increased exchanges between the two sides. With both countries facing the challenges of aging and low birth rates, Hattori hopes that experts can jointly discuss how to address future earthquake disasters.
Jinan University President Wu Dongjing reflected on the university’s experience during the September 21 earthquake, which destroyed the campus. However, the disaster also served as a reminder to cherish life and prompted the university to transform and take on social responsibility. Today, Jinan University has become an important place for local emergency evacuation.