Taiwan and Japan Agree to Regularize ‘Two Plus Two’ Meetings

In view of the increasingly tense situation in the Taiwan Strait, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Senate Secretary General Hiroshige Seko, who is visiting Taiwan, met with President Tsai Ing-wen on December 28th and both sides expressed the need to strengthen cooperation between Japan and Taiwan on the Taiwan Strait issue and agreed to hold regular “two plus two” meetings between the ruling parties of Japan and Taiwan, as well as diplomatic and security chiefs.

Faced with the threat from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen announced a military service reform policy on Tuesday, including an extension of compulsory service from the current four months to one year. Mr. Sekosaid the high-level exchange of views between Taiwan and Japan under such circumstances sends a strong message to the outside world.

On December 16th, the Japanese government approved the “Three Security Files”, which include provisions related to “peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”. At the meeting, Tsai praised the Japanese government’s “Three Security Files” and said that Japan has demonstrated its determination to maintain regional peace and stability by significantly increasing its defense capabilities. She also expressed her hope that Japan would support Taiwan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).