Does Taiwan official’s Japan visit reflect ‘new reality’ of Tokyo-Taipei ties?

Cheng Wen-tsan met senior politicians from Japan’s ruling LDP in the first visit to the country by a sitting Taiwanese vice-premier in 29 years

The security situation in North Asia is bound to have cropped up during talks, even though Tokyo and Taipei have insisted the aim of the trip was to boost trade, analysts say

Reading Time:3 minutes

Taiwan’s Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan, left, with Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:30am, 30 Jun 2023

Taiwanese Vice-Premier Cheng Wen-tsan on Wednesday concluded a four-day visit to Japan in a trip ostensibly about economic ties but where tensions between the self-ruled island and Beijing would likely also have been discussed, analysts said.

Cheng’s visit, along with a delegation of business and industry officials, is the first by a sitting Taiwanese vice-premier in 29 years.

He met former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso, who is currently vice-president of the country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as well as the party’s secretary general Toshimitsu Motegi, who is seen in some circles as a future leader of Japan.

Tokyo and Taipei sought to emphasise that the focus of the trip was boosting business, trade and cultural ties, with strengthening semiconductor supply chains also part of the agenda.

But analysts have said the security situation in North Asia will inevitably crop up in discussions behind closed doors.

Cheng Wen-tsan (L), Vice Premier of Taiwan, and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi hold a meeting in Tokyo. Photo: AFP

In a social media post, Cheng said he held “in-depth discussions on Taiwan-Japan economic and trade exchanges, industrial cooperation and strengthening Taiwan-Japan relations” with Aso.