Japanese Lawmakers Visit Taiwan to Discuss ‘Security Issues’

A bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers visited Taiwan last week to discuss strategic ties between the two countries. The visit sparked a strong reaction from China, which was not unforeseen, analysts say. The Japanese legislators met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te last Wednesday at the Presidential Office. They were hosted for a luncheon the next day by Taiwan’s minister of foreign affairs, Lin Chia-lung. The delegation included Shigeru Ishiba—Japan’s former defense minister and a prospective candidate for prime minister. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the visiting group as a “Japanese parliamentary delegation focused on security issues,” in an official statement on Aug. 15. Other than Ishiba, the delegation included five members of the Japanese House of Representatives: Seiji Maehara and Ishiba, who jointly led the delegation; Gen Nakatani; Akihisa Nagashima; Shu Watanabe; and Keiro Kitagami....