[International] Japanese Diet Members Establish Research Group on Taiwan Strait Peace, Planning Policy Recommendations and Legislative Promotion

Cross-party Japanese lawmakers have established the "Parliamentary Caucus for Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait." The initiating lawmakers stated that peace in the Taiwan Strait is inseparable from Japan's security. In the future, they will hold monthly study sessions, inviting experts and scholars to discuss the situation in the Taiwan Strait, Japan's security, and Japan-Taiwan cooperation issues, hoping to translate research findings into policy recommendations and legislative references for the government. According to CNA, the caucus was jointly initiated by five lawmakers, including LDP Senator Haruo Kitamura, Japan Innovation Party Representatives Kaoru Nishida and Mitsuhiro Yokota, Japan Innovation Party Senator Akira Ishi, and Democratic Party for the People Senator Yoshihiko Yamada. They stated that they will continue to invite more lawmakers from different parties to participate and expand cross-party cooperation. Akira Ishi, the secretary-general, posted on social media platform X today (16th) that the five members visited the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan yesterday to meet with Representative Lee Yi-yang and held discussions. Both sides exchanged views on how to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the importance of deepening Japan-Taiwan cooperation. During the meeting, Representative Lee also invited the lawmakers to visit Taiwan as soon as possible. Ishi stated that the establishment of the caucus is primarily driven by a strong sense of crisis regarding "What happens to Taiwan is what happens to Japan." The purpose of its establishment is to continuously deepen research and discussion, consider how to prevent crises before they occur, avoid the occurrence of a Taiwan Strait crisis, maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and also prepare for potential emergencies. He said that in the future, they will actively engage in exchanges with various sectors in Taiwan, and based on this, compile relevant opinions and research findings to submit concrete policy recommendations to the Japanese Diet and government. Akira Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, posted on Facebook that in recent years, the Japanese Diet has gradually launched a "campaign to give Taiwan a proper name." The long-standing "Japan-ROC Diet Members' Consultative Group" was recently officially renamed the "Japan-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Alliance." The newly established organization directly includes "Peace in the Taiwan Strait" in its name. He stated that this represents the Japanese Diet taking practical action to express its stance to the international community, urging more people to recognize that "Peace in the Taiwan Strait is an important part of the international public interest." This is a clear response to China's continuous military pressure and diplomatic suppression in recent years. Yaita revealed that he participated in some of the preparatory work for the group's establishment. He recently held a small seminar in Tokyo with several initiating lawmakers, introducing the current political and security situation in Taiwan, as well as Taiwan's observations on the regional situation. He said that it is evident that concern for Taiwan in Japanese political circles has gradually shifted from emotional support to concrete policy discussions. He stated that the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank is planning to invite members of the caucus to visit Taiwan in September for more in-depth exchanges with various sectors in Taiwan. (Editor: Liao Yiting)