TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Lin Yu-hui (林郁慧), deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan–Japan Relations Association, spoke about Taiwan’s close partnership with Japan during a press conference on Tuesday.

Taiwan and Japan are neighbors with deep people-to-people ties, Lin stated, CNA. The countries share core values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Lin’s comments come after China protested Premier Cho Jung-tai’s (卓榮泰) visit to Japan. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong called Japanese Ambassador to China Kanasugi Kenji on Saturday to express dissatisfaction over his trip. The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo also lodged a protest with Kanai Masaki, director-general of Japan’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau.

Lin noted that Takaichi Sanae has been a long-time supporter of Taiwan, and the Japan Cabinet overall is friendly toward Taiwan. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru and Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu have both publicly stated that the Japanese government is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan.

These actions signal that Taiwan–Japan relations have become a basic policy stance and consensus within the Japanese government, Lin said. She added that the foreign ministry welcomes continued expansion of bilateral exchanges and cooperation.