KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung visits Japan to meet Shigeru Ishiba

KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung recently embarked on a visit to Japan, holding intensive meetings with several heavyweight members of Japan's House of Representatives and House of Councillors, including former Prime Minister and incumbent House member Shigeru Ishiba. Amid current international geopolitical tensions and heightened attention toward Indo-Pacific security, the KMT leadership's trip to Japan aims not only to deepen party-to-party diplomacy between Taiwan and Japan, but also to clearly convey the party's latest policy stance on cross-strait relations and regional security to the Japanese political circle. Through this series of high-level meetings, the KMT sought to explain to the Japanese side that Taiwan plays an indispensable role in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, while emphasizing the importance of a responsible cross-strait approach to the interests of neighboring countries.

During his talks with Shigeru Ishiba and other Japanese lawmakers, Chang clearly pointed out that Taiwan has a responsibility to actively improve cross-strait relations and is committed to safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. As a defense expert and former Prime Minister in Japanese politics who has long focused on East Asian security and regional defense issues, Ishiba exchanged in-depth views with Chang on the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Chang stressed to the Japanese side that the KMT has always advocated handling cross-strait relations under the "2D Strategy," which balances "defense" and "dialogue"—ensuring Taiwan's security through strength while not abandoning any possibility of dialogue, thereby reducing the risk of a cross-strait clash. He noted that this approach not only serves Taiwan's highest interests, but also makes a substantive contribution to regional security and stability.

Chang further elaborated on KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen's core objectives regarding the cross-strait path, noting that the central appeal is to foster a situation where "if Taiwan is at peace, Japan is at peace," ensuring that Taiwan will not become a trouble-maker nor bring trouble to neighboring countries such as Japan. This discourse precisely echoes Japan's long-standing, high-level concern for peace in the Taiwan Strait. The Japanese government and public have consistently maintained a high sensitivity toward stability in the Taiwan Strait, because once a conflict erupts, it would not only directly threaten Japan's maritime lifelines, but could also impact Japan's domestic security. By reiterating its stance of "not causing trouble for neighboring countries" during this visit to Japan, the KMT helps dispel doubts within Japanese political circles regarding Taiwan's political transitions or uncertainties in cross-strait policies.

For a long time, the KMT has maintained deep historical ties and close communication channels with the Japanese political sphere. From past parliamentary diplomacy to regularized party-to-party exchanges, both sides have maintained smooth dialogue mechanisms on economic, trade, cultural, and regional security issues. In addition to meeting with Shigeru Ishiba, Chang's trip also included extensive contact with parliamentarians from various Japanese political parties, demonstrating the KMT's consistent attitude of valuing relations with Japan regardless of ruling or opposition status. This cross-party communication helps various sectors in Japan comprehensively understand the policy direction of Taiwan's opposition party and ensures that substantive relations between Taiwan and Japan will not be negatively affected by domestic political changes.

Faced with complex and shifting diplomatic and cross-strait situations, Taiwan's major political parties are actively seeking understanding and support from the international community. The KMT's dispatch of a vice-chairman-level official to Japan for intensive visits, accompanied by explicit policy declarations to safeguard stability in the Taiwan Strait and avoid burdening neighboring countries, carries multiple political and strategic implications. This not only consolidates the KMT's traditional friendship with the Japanese political arena, but also demonstrates to the international community Taiwan's balanced efforts in pursuing its own security alongside regional peace, thereby securing more favorable external strategic space for Taiwan.