TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is optimistic that a Taiwan envoy will attend the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Although Taiwan was not among those slated to receive an event notification, the Sankei Shimbun reported that the Hiroshima City Government became “inclined” to include it in light of the 80th anniversaries of both the end of World War II and the Hiroshima bombing, per CNA. In previous years, Taiwan had been excluded, as invitations were extended only to countries with which Japan maintains formal diplomatic ties.

This year, however, the city broke with tradition by opting to send notifications rather than formal invitations, allowing recipients to decide whether to attend the Aug. 6 ceremony. In April, Hiroshima announced it would notify 195 countries and regions with diplomatic missions in Japan or UN representation.

Taiwan was not initially included on the list. However, the city later determined there was no justification for its exclusion, given the event’s goal of promoting the “spirit of Hiroshima," a message of coexistence and prosperity for humanity.

On May 15, Hiroshima confirmed it had decided to notify Taiwan, per The Asahi Shimbun. The city government also verified that it had been informed of Taiwan's intention to attend.

MOFA Spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said during a Tuesday press briefing that the ministry welcomes the invitation. Taiwan’s representative office in Osaka is in contact with the Hiroshima City Government, and a suitable attendee will be chosen once the notification is formally received.

In response to media inquiries regarding the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Mayor Suzuki Shiro on Friday said that Taiwan would not be invited or notified for the Aug. 9 ceremony, in keeping with past practice. Hsiao expressed regret over this, reiterating that Taiwan is committed to upholding regional peace.

Taipei’s representative in Osaka, Hung Ying-chieh (洪英傑), recently told CNA that several pro-Taiwan city councilors in Hiroshima had spoken up for Taiwan in the city council. Hung pointed out that Taiwan has never received an official invitation for the event.

In addition, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) on Monday said that during a visit to Hiroshima last week, she received a handwritten invitation from the city's mayor asking her to attend the ceremony.