Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader and soon-to-be Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba is likely to seek stable relations with China while also continuing economic cooperation with Taiwan, Taiwanese academics said on Friday.
The LDP on Friday elected Ishiba as its president. As it has a majority in the Diet, it is widely expected that he would become the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday, when the new parliamentary session opens.
Ishiba’s top priority would be to improve Japan’s economic situation, which has led to declining support for the LDP under Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, said Li Shih-hui (李世暉), chairman of the Taiwan Japan Academy and a professor at National Chengchi University’s College of International Affairs.
Photo: Kyodo / via Reuters
The result of November’s US presidential election and the new US president’s security policy toward China are also important factors to consider, Li said.
The Taiwan Strait remains a major strategic interest in the US-Japan relationship, but further progress in Taiwan-Japan ties would be mentioned in Ishiba’s upcoming policy speech to the parliament, Li said.
If the Taiwan Strait or East Asian security concerns are mentioned, that would be a positive for Taiwan and the country’s national security establishment should look to establish dialogue with Ishiba’s team, Li said.
Taiwan-Japan ties would continue to develop steadily, albeit cautiously in the face of pressure from China, Institute for Policy Research senior consultant Chen Wen-jia (陳文甲) said.
Ishiba, a former Japanese minister of defense, has advocated for Japan to strengthen its military capabilities, engage in diplomacy independent of the US and to take on a larger role in the region, Chen said.
Outside of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s time in office, Taiwan has not been a policy priority within Japan’s cabinet, Li said.
Li expects Ishiba to continue Kishida’s focus on economic issues in the country.
Taiwan should find bilateral policy issues on which the two countries can work together and improve ties, such as collaborating on scientific and technological development and research, Li added.
Ishiba’s focus on economic issues means that deepening economic ties between the two countries would be an important priority, especially in areas such as supply chain security and technological innovation, Chen said.
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