Taiwan Holds First Security Dialogue with Japanese Parliament

(Photo by Japan Forward)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As China increases its military threats against Taiwan, the parliaments of Taiwan and Japan are set to hold a security dialogue. This comes five months after the two countries first established a ruling party-level diplomatic and security dialogue channel in August.

According to Liberty Times, citing a member of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the two parliaments will hold the 'Security Partnership Forum' on the 18th.

The security forum, held via video conference, was led by Wang Ding-yu, a member of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan Foreign and National Defense Committee, and Yasuhide Nakayama, former Vice Minister of Defense of Japan.

Attending the forum from Taiwan are Legislators Wang Ding-yu, Zhao Tianlin, and Lin Jingyi, while from Japan, former Vice Minister of Defense Yasuhide Nakayama and Deputy Minister of General Affairs Hiroaki Tabata, both members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), will participate.

DPP Legislator Wang Ding-yu emphasized that this forum represents an exchange that goes beyond formal inter-party interactions.

This is the first time the two countries, which established a ruling party-level diplomatic and security dialogue channel last August, are engaging in security talks through their parliaments.

Since Japan severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan following the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 1972, there have been no official government-to-government exchanges. However, since February last year, political circles have maintained dialogue, aligning with the US-led efforts to counter China.

Foreign media report that as Taiwan and Japan, which lack formal diplomatic channels, expand security-related consultations to the parliamentary level, a strong backlash from China is expected.

Previously, in August last year, when Japan and Taiwan's ruling parties?the LDP and DPP?held a security dialogue via video conference, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested, stating, "We solemnly demand that they stop interfering in China's internal affairs and refrain from sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces."

China also referenced Japan's colonial rule over Taiwan in the past, saying, "Japan bears historical guilt toward the Chinese people regarding the Taiwan issue and should be especially cautious in its words and actions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.