Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) today confirmed that he visited Japan last month, adding that China's "backlash" over the trip would not affect the cordial relations between Taipei and Tokyo.
It was the first time Lin had publicly acknowledged the reported trip. While this was not the first visit to Japan by a Taiwanese top diplomat, such trips are rarely disclosed due to the absence of official diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Japan.
Asked by reporters in Taipei today about the visit, Lin said Taiwan is "making friends with countries around the world."
Photo: Wang I-sung, Taipei Times
"Given Taiwan and Japan's cordial relations, it is only natural that while in Japan, I visited Expo 2025 Osaka and met with Japanese friends," he told reporters on the sideline of a Legislative session.
Regarding China's response, Lin said it was not expected to impact Taiwan-Japan ties.
The visit was first revealed last month by veteran Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya, a longtime supporter of Taiwan.
In a Facebook post on July 25, Furuya — a member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and chair of the Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Council, which promotes bilateral ties in Japan's Diet — said he had met with Lin and Sanae Takaichi, a former minister for economic security, among others.
Furuya also posted a group photo taken with Lin and Taiwan's representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) later said that Lin's visit was made in a private capacity.
China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, reacted strongly to the trip, postponing a Japan-China agricultural ministers' meeting originally set to take place in Tokyo on Aug. 11.
Beijing also lodged a protest with Tokyo, accusing Japan of "providing a stage for anti-China separatist activities" and "sending the wrong message."
Local media reported that, in addition to visiting the Osaka Expo site, Lin also went to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan in Tokyo, which serves as Taiwan's de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS