Taiwan FM Lin Confirms Japan Visit Despite China Backlash

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung publicly confirmed his recent visit to Japan, stating that China's negative reaction will not damage the strong bilateral relationship between Taipei and Tokyo. Lin emphasized that Taiwan is actively cultivating global friendships and that his attendance at Expo 2025 Osaka and meetings with Japanese officials were natural given the friendly ties between the two. The visit, initially revealed by Japanese legislator Keiji Furuya, drew a strong response from China, which postponed an agricultural ministers' meeting with Japan and accused Tokyo of supporting anti-China separatist activities. In response, China summoned Japan's embassy chief in Beijing to express grave concerns over issues including Taiwan, historical disputes, and the safety of Chinese citizens in Japan. These diplomatic tensions occur amid longstanding historical grievances and territorial disputes between China and Japan, with Beijing continuing to assert Taiwan as part of its territory. Japan, like most countries, does not formally recognize Taiwan as independent, but maintains unofficial relations that China views as provocative.