Overview
- Visiting former justice minister Keisuke Suzuki said in Taipei on Dec. 24 that Japan and Taiwan must strengthen joint deterrence to prevent a "Taiwan contingency," following meetings with President Lai Ching‑te and other officials.
- Senior LDP figure Koichi Hagiuda met Lai on Dec. 22 to agree on deepening cooperation, including in semiconductors, and he thanked Taipei for lifting November restrictions on imports of Japanese foods tied to the 2011 Fukushima accident.
- China’s Foreign Ministry said it was firmly opposed to Hagiuda’s visit and confirmed it filed a diplomatic complaint with Tokyo, urging Japan to "reflect deeply on its mistake."
- Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said around 30 Japanese lawmakers are scheduled to visit from late December into early 2026, with multiple delegations this week meeting Lai and senior ministers.
- Tensions have intensified since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese response, with China responding with travel and study advisories, a marine products ban, and military drills.