TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council delegation arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday (Oct. 9) for a two-day visit.
The five-member group is led by former President of the House of Councillors Santo Akiko. The lawmakers will meet with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and attend the National Day celebration on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The delegation will also meet with Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) to discuss deepening parliamentary exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.
Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council is the largest pro-Taiwan group in Japan's National Diet and serves as a crucial liaison for Taiwan-Japan parliamentary diplomacy, MOFA said. The group is dedicated to enhancing bilateral relations and has repeatedly supported Taiwan's participation in global organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Their visit demonstrates support for Taiwan and highlights the deep friendship and partnership between Taiwan and Japan, the ministry said.
In May, the council sent a delegation to attend Lai’s inauguration. The council’s chair, Furuya Keiji, said at the time that the two countries should work to bolster cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region. Furuya also listed closer economic and security cooperation and more educational exchanges as top priorities.
Japan deployed a navy destroyer through the Taiwan Strait last month for the first time. According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japanese government sources revealed that Prime Minister Kishida Fumio had ordered the passage in response to China's incursion into Japanese territory in August.