Jiang Qichen leads cross‑party lawmakers to Japan for AP Parliamentarians' Council meeting, deepening ties.

Legislative Yuan Vice President Chiang Chi-chen officially led a cross-party delegation of lawmakers to Japan today (the 24th) to embark on a multi-day parliamentary diplomacy trip. The primary purpose of the visit is to attend an international parliamentary organization meeting held locally, continuing to deepen substantive interactions between Taiwan’s legislature and parliaments across the Asia-Pacific region. Upon arriving in Japan, the delegation immediately commenced a packed schedule of official itineraries. On the first afternoon, they proceeded to the House of Representatives First Members' Office Building to attend the council meeting of the 88th Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union (APPU), demonstrating Taiwan’s proactive engagement in regional parliamentary diplomacy.

The APPU has long served as an important platform for exchange among lawmakers in the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation among regional countries through multilateral dialogue. As one of the founding and long-active members of the organization, Taiwan has consistently dispatched heavyweight delegations from the Legislative Yuan to participate in various meetings over the years. This time, with Chiang personally leading the delegation in his capacity as Legislative Yuan Vice President and inviting cross-party legislators to form the group, it not only highlights the high importance the nation's legislature attaches to participating in international organizations, but also conveys to the international community a certain degree of consensus on dialogue and solidarity among Taiwan's political parties regarding foreign diplomacy and regional security issues.

Following the intensive afternoon council meeting, Chiang and his delegation headed to the official residence of Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori in the evening to attend a welcome banquet hosted specially by the host. The high-level reception by the Japanese side fully demonstrates the long-standing and profound foundation of mutual trust between Taiwan and Japan. Through informal exchange occasions such as the banquet, members of the Taiwan delegation were able to engage in more in-depth exchanges of views with key figures in Japanese politics and legislators from other participating nations, which holds substantial and positive benefits for consolidating bilateral friendship between Taiwan and Japan and expanding future parliamentary diplomacy spaces across various fields.

Observing Taiwan-Japan relations in recent years, parliamentary diplomacy has consistently played a crucial role as a lubricant and propellant. Due to the lack of formal diplomatic recognition between the two countries, official interactions often face certain practical limitations; consequently, exchanges centered around parliamentarians have become an important channel for breaking diplomatic impasses and maintaining high-level dialogue. From past mutual assistance in epidemic prevention supplies to current discussions on regional security and economic and trade cooperation, lawmakers from both Taiwan and Japan have established deep cross-party friendships through such regular and ad-hoc mutual visits. This not only helps elevate Taiwan's visibility in the Indo-Pacific region but also lays a popular and political foundation for the steady development of bilateral relations.

Looking ahead to the itinerary for the coming days, the cross-party delegation led by Chiang is expected to hold multiple meetings and seminars with Japanese political circles, think tanks, and overseas Chinese communities. At a time when global geopolitical situations are volatile and unpredictable, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific commands intense international attention, the Taiwan lawmakers' trip to Japan to attend the APPU council meeting is not only a routine international parliamentary event, but also carries significant strategic importance in consolidating regional democratic alliances and conveying Taiwan's determination to safeguard regional peace. As various agendas progress, it is expected to garner further support and understanding for Taiwan from international friends.