The Japanese Diet is expected to pass a bill during its current legislative session that would pave the way for Taiwanese to enter the country without visas, a Japanese business newspaper reported yesterday.
According to the Sankei Shimbun, the Liberal Democratic Party and its ruling coalition partner Komeito, as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, reached a consensus on Tuesday that a special bill will be drafted to allow for visa-free treatment for Taiwanese passport holders.
As Tokyo does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the proposed special bill is necessary if Japan wants to offer a permanent visa waiver for Taiwanese. Japan's current exit and entry regulations only authorize visa waivers for citizens from countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties.
The Sankei Shimbun said the Japanese parliament is expected to approve the special bill during its current session.
Earlier this year, the Japanese parliament passed a similar special bill to allow Taiwanese visitors to stay in the country without a visa for 90 days from March 25 through Sept. 25 to promote the eco-friendly World Expo in Aichi prefecture.
As the temporary visa-waiver period will expire soon, the Sankei Shimbun said that Japanese parliamentarians will present a special bill to allow for permanent visa-free status to Taiwanese passport holders.
Taiwan is Japan's second-largest tourist source after South Korea. The Sankei Shimbun said it is hoped that the permanent visa waiver will attract even more Taiwanese tourists to Japan.
RSS