Japanese lawmaker Sanae Takaichi is set to visit Taiwan on Sunday. Takaichi is visiting at the invitation of a think tank and is also expected to meet with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).
A senior member of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and former Minister for Economic Security, she will be part of a three-day delegation from a Kansai LDP-Taiwan friendship group.
During the visit, the group will pay respects at Wuzhi Mountain Military Cemetery for former President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and meet with Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰). Takaichi is also scheduled to speak at an event run by the Indo-Pacific Studies Center think tank.
Takaichi, who ran for LDP presidency last year, is a known supporter of Taiwan but has been unable to visit because of her official government position. She expressed her intention to visit last December during a visit with DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) in Tokyo.
When asked by Japanese media where she hoped to go during her trip, Takaichi said she hoped to meet President Lai, exchange views with former Digital Affairs Minister Audrey Tang (唐鳳), and visit the statue of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Kaohsiung.