TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Tuesday urged a visiting Japanese lawmaker delegation to support a Taiwan-Japan free trade agreement and its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Democratic Party for the People Representative Toshihide Muraoka is leading the delegation.
Lin said an FTA would deepen economic ties and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the foreign ministry. The two countries maintain close trade and people-to-people exchanges, he said.
The foreign minister said the two countries are located in the First Island Chain and face increasingly severe regional security challenges, making closer cooperation essential. He highlighted that both countries are facing gray-zone threats such as cyberattacks and cognitive warfare from China and called for stronger security cooperation and information sharing.
Lin thanked the DPFP for repeatedly emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. He said the party has become an increasingly influential force in Japanese politics and expressed hope for further exchanges and cooperation.
Toshihide said Taiwan-Japan relations are built on strong mutual goodwill. He noted that Taiwan is always among the first to assist Japan during natural disasters such as earthquakes and expressed gratitude for the support.
He stressed that his party places great importance on peace and stability in the strait and recognizes that Taiwan’s security is closely linked to Japan’s own security. He said the party will continue urging the Japanese government to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan to safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
The foreign ministry said the delegation’s visit would help deepen exchanges between Taiwan and Japan in national security, economic security, and supply chain resilience.
