Japan's 'Taiwan Pivot': Lawmakers Deepen Taipei Ties, Risking Beijing's Ire

A flurry of visits by high-profile lawmakers to is signaling a significant warming of ties with , a move that threatens to further complicate already strained relations with . The trend was highlighted by a meeting between , a senior official in 's ruling , and President .

Takaichi's Hawkish Turn Fuels the Trend

This wave of parliamentary diplomacy comes as Tokyo-Beijing relations have deteriorated, largely due to hawkish remarks from Prime Minister . According to the source, the sight of lawmakers "flocking to " could hamper any efforts to repair the diplomatic spat. While officially maintains its 'One ' policy, these repeated high-level visits are seen by as a serious political provocation and a hollowing out of that commitment.

A Calculated Move in a Shifting Global Order

Tokyo's closer engagement with doesn't exist in a vacuum. It aligns with broader geopolitical shifts, including the administration's policy of arming to deter a potential invasion and a growing wariness in toward . By strengthening ties with a fellow democracy, appears to be hedging its bets and reinforcing a coalition of like-minded partners to counterbalance 's influence in the Indo-Pacific.