Taiwan pledges deeper Japan security cooperation as senior lawmaker visits

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen stands next to Koichi Hagiuda, policy chief for Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as they pose for a picture during their meeting in Taipei, Taiwan December 10, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen pledged on Saturday to deepen security cooperation with Japan to ensure freedom in the Indo-Pacific, during a meeting with a senior member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Although Japan and Chinese-claimed and democratically governed Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties, they have close unofficial relations and both share concerns about China, especially its increased military activities near them.