TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) called for closer cooperation with Japan in security and technology during a meeting with Japan–ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council Chairman Furuya Keiji on Monday.

Lai expressed gratitude to Furuya for promoting Taiwan–Japan parliamentary exchanges and advocating for Taiwan on key issues, according to the Presidential Office. He praised Furuya as one of Taiwan’s most steadfast and important international friends. The president also thanked the Japanese government and parliament, led by Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, for consistently emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Lai said he has proposed an eight-year NT$1.28 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. The president said Taiwan looks forward to deepening cooperation with Japan and other democratic partners to “safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

He added that Taiwan and Japan’s industries are highly complementary and that the two countries have become important trading partners. Taiwan hopes to deepen partnerships with Japan in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and energy to build secure and reliable supply chains and strengthen regional economic security.

Furuya said Japan’s position on Taiwan has remained the same, and Tokyo will not yield to Chinese pressure. Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen collaboration in next-generation industries, green energy, economic and energy security, and supply chain resilience, he said.

As tensions in the Taiwan Strait grow, Furuya said Japan would continue strengthening cooperation with like-minded nations to safeguard Taiwan and its democracy and uphold regional peace. He said he hopes Taiwan and Japan will continue to face challenges together and deepen cooperation.