Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te has been spotted making an unannounced visit to the family home of Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. Japanese media captured footage of Lai entering the house with Taiwan’s top representative in the country. His arrival comes days after the former Japanese leader was shot dead in the street in the city of Nara.
Lai’s trip is the highest-level visit by a serving Taiwanese politician since Taiwan and Japan cut ties half a century ago.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Lai traveled to Japan on a “personal itinerary” and refused to comment further.
The presidential office also said it would not comment on the trip out of respect for Abe’s family. But it did add that Vice President Lai has been friends with Abe’s family for years, and that Lai was deeply saddened by the news of Abe’s death on Friday.
Abe’s family will hold a memorial service on Tuesday. It is unclear if Vice President Lai is invited.