Japan, Taiwan ruling party members discuss econ security amid China clout
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Ruling party lawmakers from Taiwan and Japan responsible for foreign affairs and defense on Monday discussed cooperation over economi
Japan and Taiwan's ruling party lawmakers convened on Monday to deliberate on economic security and defense concerns, primarily posed by China's ambitions to annex the democratic island. The Liberal Democratic Party from Japan and the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan engaged in discussions about countering potential cyberattacks and other disruptions to internet infrastructure. Reports of submarine communication cable damages in the vicinity of Taiwan led members to suspect Chinese involvement.
Kei Takagi, leading the LDP's foreign affairs division, emphasized the rapid shift in the security environment and economic landscape. He highlighted the significance of the ongoing dialogue. Keisuke Suzuki, a former justice minister of the LDP, echoed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait for both nations.
On the Taiwanese side, legislators including Kuo Kuo-wen, Chen Kuan-ting, Shen Pao-yang, and two others participated in the meeting. Kuo Kuo-wen called for enhanced ties between Japan and Taiwan, citing the escalating security threats from China. Taiwanese lawmakers underscored cooperation in areas such as human resources development in the semiconductor sector, drones, and disaster prevention.
The meeting coincided with shared concerns between Japan and Taiwan over China's assertive stance in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait. China, led by the Communist Party, views Taiwan as a rebellious province, aiming to reunify it with the mainland through force if required. Since the Chinese Civil War in 1949, Beijing and Taipei have maintained separate governance, while Japan and Taiwan hold unofficial diplomatic ties.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
