Japan's New PM Meets Taiwan's APEC Rep in South Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sat down with Taiwan’s top APEC delegate, Lin Hsin-i, on November 3, 2025. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, a day after greeting each other at the main event.

Takaichi, who became prime minister earlier this year, used the meeting to stress how much Japan values its relationship with Taiwan. After the talks, she posted on X:"I look forward to deepening exchanges and collaboration between Japan and Taiwan."

She added that keeping peace across the Taiwan Strait is of the "utmost importance." Lin shared the same hope, saying he believes ties between the two sides will keep growing, according to Japanese officials.

• Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi Meets Taiwan’s APEC Envoy Amid Rising China Tensions
• Takaichi-Lin Meeting Signals Japan’s Subtle Support for Taiwan at APEC Summit
• Japan-Taiwan Talks in South Korea Highlight Regional Balancing as China Protests

The meeting comes at a tense time in the region. The APEC summit focused on making economies stronger despite global problems like supply-chain breakdowns and political friction. Japan and Taiwan both play big roles in chips and tech, so they want to work together to protect trade and avoid pressure from other countries.

But China reacted quickly and angrily. On the same day, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned that Takaichi’s X post could “send the wrong signal” to groups pushing for Taiwan’s independence. Beijing called the Taiwan issue an “internal matter” and told Japan to stick to the “one China” policy. The sharp words show how tricky Japan-China relations remain.

Experts say the meeting is Japan quietly showing support for Taiwan without going too far. "In an era of heightened U.S.-China rivalry, such engagements signal Tokyo's pragmatic balancing act," said Akira Tanaka, an analyst at a Tokyo think tank. With Taiwan’s elections coming up and the U.S. staying active in Asia, these talks could lead to more cooperation on tech, disaster aid, and sea safety.

Also Read: Russia's PM Visits China for Key Talks as Ties Grow Stronger

As the APEC summit wrapped up, Takaichi’s move highlighted Japan’s growing role in keeping Asia stable—while reminding everyone how fast China can push back.