Taiwan pledges deeper Japan security cooperation as senior lawmakers visit

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen pledged on Saturday to deepen security cooperation with Japan to ensure freedom in the Indo-Pacific, during a meeting with a senior member of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Although Japan and Chinese-claimed and democratically governed Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties, they have close unofficial relations and both share concerns about China, especially its increased military activities near them.
Meeting in the presidential office in Taipei, Tsai thanked Koichi Hagiuda, the LDP’s policy chief, for Japan’s support over issues like maintaining security in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
“We have seen in recent years Taiwan-Japan relations have become ever closer,” she said.
“In the future, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with Japan in various fields such as security and work together to ensure the freedom, openness and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.”
Hagiuda said Taiwan was a good friend with shared values.