TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A meeting between President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and a senior Japanese lawmaker earlier this week has sparked anger in Beijing, underscoring deepening ties despite China’s objections, Japan’s media has reported.
The visit of Hagiuda Koichi, executive acting secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is just the latest example of a surge in diplomatic activity, per Japan Times.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry recorded 123 visits by Japanese lawmakers to Taiwan this year, up from 97 in 2004. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae also visited Lai in Taiwan last year before becoming LDP leader.
Haguida held talks with Lai at the Presidential Office, according to an official readout. He described relations between the two US allies as the “best they have ever been.”
Hagiuda's group — joined by Hachioji city councilors — followed on at least two other LDP delegations to Taiwan this month, Taiwanese officials confirmed.
Lai was quoted as saying he hoped for further exchanges and joint efforts to advance a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” while thanking Takaichi for supporting stability across the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan-Japan friendship.
China has reacted to the series of diplomatic meetings by summoning Japan's ambassador, urging travel agencies to curb Japan-bound tours and publicly condemning the trips as meddling in its internal affairs.
Such parliamentary visits from Japan are routine but have intensified amid rising Japan-China tensions over Taiwan. Last month, Takaichi suggested Japan's military could theoretically respond if China attacked Taiwan — framing it as a survival issue for Tokyo.
From Taipei's perspective, the trips affirm democratic solidarity and yield practical gains. Taiwan lifted long-standing restrictions on Japanese food imports in November following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, per CNA.
Hagiuda called for expanding collaboration beyond semiconductors into other fields. In return, Lai stressed unity among democracies to counter regional pressures from China.
