KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung visits Japan to rebuild political trust

KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung visited Japan this month, holding consecutive meetings with members of both the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet. This trip marks Vice Chairman Chang's first official visit since he was formally tasked with managing Japan-related affairs late last year. His itinerary included panel discussions in Tokyo with multiple lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, during which both sides exchanged views on cross-strait relations, economic and trade cooperation, and regional security. During the talks, Chang emphasized that the KMT has spent the past decade in opposition, resulting in a relative decline in official and civic exchanges with Japan. He expressed hope that future interactions of this nature will help restore and deepen political mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two sides.

Over the past decade, the KMT's seats in the Legislative Yuan have steadily decreased, transitioning from the ruling party to the major opposition party, while the visibility of its foreign policy has correspondingly declined. In the past, the KMT government deepened economic and trade ties with Japan through the "New Southbound Policy" and promoted various cultural and educational exchange programs in the 1990s and 2000s. However, since the Democratic Progressive Party took power in 2016, cross-strait tensions have escalated, and the KMT has rarely appeared on the public stage regarding Japan-related affairs. Chang stated during this visit that the KMT still possesses the capability and willingness to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, hoping that various sectors in Japan will re-examine and evaluate the KMT's pragmatic stance on cross-strait policies.

Historically, the relationship between the KMT and Japan has a unique context. From political figures during the Japanese colonial period to post-war diplomatic interactions, multiple leaders within the KMT have maintained close ties with Japanese dignitaries, leaving notable marks particularly in economic development and defense cooperation. In recent years, as Japan's focus on the security of the Taiwan Strait has increased, the demand for cooperation between the two sides in areas such as defense technology exchange and maritime security has gradually emerged. Chang pointed out that if greater leeway can be secured in policies toward Japan, the KMT will help promote diversified cooperation including maritime security agreements, energy supply, and technological research and development, thereby further enhancing Taiwan's international visibility.

On the Japanese side, continuous attention is being paid to changes in the situation across the Taiwan Strait. The Japanese government has repeatedly reaffirmed its "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy in recent times and strengthened defense cooperation with the United States and Southeast Asian nations. Regarding Chang Jung-kung's visit, some members of the Japanese Diet expressed welcome, believing that cross-strait stability aligns with Japan's national security interests while also providing a more stable political environment for Japanese corporate investment in Taiwan. However, some voices cautioned that any contact with opposition political parties must be handled prudently to avoid affecting official dialogues with the ruling party. Officials from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in interviews with reporters that they maintain an open attitude toward exchanges with all political parties in Taiwan to ensure information transparency and policy consistency.

For the KMT, this trip to Japan is not only a repair of its diplomatic image but also a crucial strategy to vie for future electoral support. Securing substantive cooperation commitments from Japan will help the KMT shape an image as a "guardian of peace" on cross-strait issues and establish the initiative of its foreign relations in the minds of voters. For Taiwan as a whole, the ability of political forces other than the DPP to maintain interaction with Japan may provide more diverse buffers and channels for dialogue regarding the cross-strait situation, thereby reducing diplomatic risks driven by a single political party. In the coming months, whether the KMT can translate the outcomes of this trip into concrete cooperative projects will serve as an important indicator for observing the trajectory of cross-strait and Taiwan-Japan relations.