A wave of visits to Taiwan by Japanese lawmakers is underway, underscoring the close ties between Tokyo and Taipei and drawing a sharp response from Beijing.
Koichi Hagiuda, a senior figure in Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, met with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te on Monday. Hagiuda described relations as “the best they have ever been,” according to a statement from Taiwan’s Presidential Office. Lai said he hoped to further deepen cooperation and that the two sides could come together to advance a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”