[International] Japanese Lawmakers Form Study Group on Taiwan Strait Peace, Plan Policy Recommendations and Legislation

Cross-party Japanese lawmakers have established the "Parliamentary League for Considering 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 study group was jointly initiated by five lawmakers: Liberal Democratic Party Upper House member Haruo Kitamura, Japan Innovation Party House of Representatives members Kaoru Nishida and Mitsuhiro Yokota, Japan Innovation Party Upper House member Taira Ishi, and Democratic Party for the People Upper House member Yoshihiko Yamada. They stated that they will continue to invite lawmakers from more parties to participate, expanding cross-party cooperation. Taira Ishi, the secretary-general, posted on social media platform X today (16th) that the five members visited the Interchange Association, Taipei (Japan's de facto embassy in Taiwan) 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, Lee Yi-yang also invited the lawmakers to visit Taiwan as soon as possible. Ishi stated that the establishment of the league is primarily based on a strong sense of crisis regarding "Taiwan contingency is Japan contingency." The purpose of its establishment is to continuously deepen research and discussion, consider how to prevent crises from occurring, avoid the outbreak 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 provide concrete policy recommendations to the Japanese Diet and government. Akio Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Think Tank, posted on Facebook that in recent years, the Japanese Diet has gradually launched a "movement to re-name Taiwan." The "Japan-China Parliamentarians' Friendship Association," which has long existed, was recently officially renamed the "Japan-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Alliance." The newly established organization directly incorporates "Peace in the Taiwan Strait" into its name. He stated that this represents the Japanese Diet taking practical actions to express its stance to the international community, prompting 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 and Taiwan society's observations on the regional situation to the attendees. He noted 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 league to visit Taiwan in September for more in-depth exchanges with various sectors in Taiwan. (Editor: Liao Yi-ting)