Taiwanese media FTV News reported on the 8th that on Japanese social media, in response to "a certain item" that Taiwan donated to the areas affected by the Kumamoto earthquake, voices like "I feel more love than from the Japanese government" and "It would be better to be governed by Taiwan instead" even arose.

Around 4:27 PM on July 28th, a powerful earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 7 was observed in Kumamoto Prefecture. According to the article, in response to this, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chip manufacturer with a factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, announced that it would donate 250 million yen for recovery and reconstruction support in the affected areas. Taiwan's airline, China Airlines, also announced that it would donate 10 million New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 49 million yen) in relief funds. Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan donated 132 boxes of drinking water, sanitary supplies, and individual tents through Kitakyushu City, with which it has an agreement to strengthen inter-city cooperation.

The article reported that in response to Taiwan's generous support, many messages of gratitude were posted on Japanese social media, and due to dissatisfaction with the Japanese government's disaster response, voices like "I feel more love than from the Japanese government" and "It would be better to be governed by Taiwan instead" even arose. (Translated and edited by Yanagawa)