Japan Strengthens Taiwan Ties Amid Conflicts With China

With growing tensions with China in the backdrop, a pact similar to that between Taiwan and the United States could soon be established between Taiwan and Japan.

Taiwan does not currently have a diplomatic relationship with Japan—mainly due to Taiwan’s complicated relationship with the Chinese mainland.

Close to 70 lawmakers under Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party plan to change this, however, and intend to institute a new law that will give a foundation to strengthen economic relations and personal exchanges with Taiwan, Kyodo News International reported.

The legislation is based on the Taiwan Relations Act, formed in 1979 between the United States and Taiwan. While the U.S. act does not officially recognize Taiwan as a government independent of mainland China, it allows Taiwan to be treated as if it were an independent country.

The U.S. act allows for diplomatic, defense, and trade relations with Taiwan outside the control of mainland China.

Japan has not yet worked out the details of the legislation, according to Kyodo News. The law is being written by an association of junior lawmakers chaired by Nobuo Kishi, a senior vice foreign minister and the younger brother of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

When the association announced its plans for the legislation on Feb. 17, according to Kyodo News, Kishi said, “It doesn’t necessarily impair the position of China. Japan-Taiwan exchanges should be promoted.”