Ever since former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared in 2021 that “a contingency for Taiwan is a contingency for Japan” Taiwanese-Japanese relations have continued to solidify to historic highs. When current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in November 2025 that a Chinese attack on Taiwan “could constitute a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” many inferred that Japan may come to Taiwan’s aid even if Japan itself were not directly attacked. Her remarks produced a furious reaction from China, while back in Taiwan, the Lai administration of President Lai Ching-te thanked and lauded Japan for its support.

Although foreign-policy observers are used to a contentious Chinese-Japanese relationship, the opposite is largely true of Taiwanese-Japanese relations in today’s contemporary era. Even when Taiwan’s pro-China-leaning Kuomintang (KMT) party is in power, Taiwan and Japan often have a more productive than antagonistic relationship. This closeness peaks especially when Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are in power at the same time. Under the LDP’s Abe and DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen, relations reached new levels of development. Under today’s Takaichi and Lai administrations, we see even stronger fervor for Japan-Taiwan ties coming from each president.

Ever since former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared in 2021 that “a contingency for Taiwan is a contingency for Japan” Taiwanese-Japanese relations have continued to solidify to historic highs. When current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in November 2025 that a Chinese attack on Taiwan “could constitute a situation threatening Japan’s survival,” many inferred that Japan may come to Taiwan’s aid even if Japan itself were not directly attacked. Her remarks produced a furious reaction from China, while back in Taiwan, the Lai administration of President Lai Ching-te thanked and lauded Japan for its support.

Although foreign-policy observers are used to a contentious Chinese-Japanese relationship, the opposite is largely true of Taiwanese-Japanese relations in today’s contemporary era. Even when Taiwan’s pro-China-leaning Kuomintang (KMT) party is in power, Taiwan and Japan often have a more productive than antagonistic relationship. This closeness peaks especially when Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are in power at the same time. Under the LDP’s Abe and DPP’s Tsai Ing-wen, relations reached new levels of development. Under today’s Takaichi and Lai administrations, we see even stronger........

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