TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A delegation from the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party's Youth Division (自民黨青年局) will arrive in Taiwan on Tuesday (April 29), according to a statement from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部). The visit signals Japan's continued commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Taiwan. During their stay, the Japanese representatives will hold high-level meetings with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), and Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), the president of Taiwan's parliament, known as the Legislative Yuan.
The 11-member delegation is headed by Yasutoshi Nishimura, who serves in Japan's House of Representatives. Their five-day visit from April 29 to May 3 falls during Japan's Golden Week holiday period, a time when multiple Japanese delegations will be traveling to Taiwan. Lin Yu-hui (林郁慧), deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, noted that former Japanese cabinet ministers Sanae Takaichi and Yasutoshi Nishimura will be among those making separate visits during this diplomatic flurry.
Taiwan's foreign ministry emphasized the strategic importance of the Youth Division as a crucial diplomatic conduit between Taiwan and Japan, pointing out that several former directors of this organization later ascended to Japan's highest office, including former Prime Ministers Taro Aso, Shinzo Abe, and Fumio Kishida. Officials stressed that these recurring delegation exchanges serve to deepen mutual understanding of evolving policies and diplomatic priorities, ultimately reinforcing parliamentary relations and expanding collaboration across multiple sectors.
In its statement, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed optimism about further strengthening ties with Japan, emphasizing that their established foundation of mutual trust provides a solid platform for jointly advancing democratic values, stability, and economic development throughout the Asia-Pacific region. ★
