Japan ex-PM Taro Aso to go to Taiwan, speak on security at forum

Japanese former prime minister Taro Aso, who is vice-president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will visit Taiwan next week, the island said on Friday, becoming the most senior Japanese political official to visit in decades.
Self-ruled Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing, is at the centre of rising tensions in east Asia, which have contributed to a decision by close U.S. ally Japan to boost its defence spending.
Aso, who also served as Japan’s finance minister for a almost a decade to 2021, will visit on Aug. 7-9, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement welcoming the trip.
The ministry said, he will give a speech at the Ketagalan Forum, a security conference the ministry hosts on Tuesday, and meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
Japan’s Nikkei daily reported, Aso’s talks in Taiwan are expected to cover topics such as supply chains for semiconductors with a view to economic security.