Taiwan media China Times (Chinatimes.com), under the title "Taiwan Unusually and Severely Criticizes Japan," reported that following the placement of the Taiwanese representative's seat "outside the diplomatic corps area" at the "Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Victims Memorial Peace Ceremony" held on the 9th, Taiwan expressed its protest and downgraded the representative's attendance level to a proxy attendance.

According to the article, Lee Yi-yang, Representative to Japan, and two deputy representatives did not attend the ceremony on the 9th, and Chen Ming-chun, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, Fukuoka Branch, attended as a proxy. The reason for the proxy attendance was that Nagasaki City placed the Taiwanese representative's seat outside the diplomatic corps area, which was seen as "intentionally lowering Taiwan's national dignity and status."

Lee expressed strong regret and disappointment on social media. He emphasized, "Taiwan is a sovereign and independent nation, not part of China," and criticized, "Nagasaki City's decision is a capitulation to and complicity in China's assertion that 'Taiwan has no sovereignty' and its 'legal warfare' (influence operations through legal principles), and is an unjust treatment, different from what Taiwan has received at events within Japan in the past."

Lee further cited that TSMC, Taiwan's major semiconductor contract manufacturer, bringing its operations to Kumamoto will generate an economic effect of 23 trillion yen in the Kyushu region over 10 years, that 3.97 million Taiwanese visited Japan in the first half of this year, spending 752.3 billion yen, and also mentioned Taiwan's track record of support during the Great East Japan Earthquake, the recent Kumamoto earthquake, and other disasters. He argued, "Nagasaki City should not cold-shoulder Taiwan by conforming to China's pressure."

He also pointed out that the original purpose of the Peace Memorial Ceremony is "nuclear disarmament" and "the pursuit of peace," and that the target should be China, which is pursuing military expansion and intimidation. He severely criticized, saying, "Nagasaki City's response, which degrades the status of peace-loving and Japan-friendly Taiwan and panders to China's intentions, is deeply regrettable and cannot but cause disappointment." (Edited and translated by Kawajiri)