Taiwan lawmakers head to Tokyo for APPU assembly

Aug 23, 2026

A cross-party group of Taiwanese legislators is in Tokyo this week for a regional parliamentary meeting focused on supply chains — a modest but useful boost for Taiwan's diplomatic standing.

  • Deputy Legislative Speaker Chiang Chi-chen is leading a 14-member delegation to the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians' Union gathering, standing in for Speaker Han Kuo-yu.
  • The three-day meeting runs at Japan's lower house building, with the theme of defending open trade and making regional supply chains tougher.
  • The delegation spans all three main parties — KMT, DPP and TPP — a rare show of unity in Taiwan's usually split politics.
  • Trade, culture and closer ties with Japanese lawmakers are on the agenda, with Taiwan pitching itself as a key link in global tech supply chains.
  • Taiwan hosted the same gathering last year and pushed through proposals including a regional plan on ocean waste.

Outlook: Expect warm words and informal meetings with Japanese legislators rather than binding deals, but the trip keeps Taiwan visible in a region rethinking where it sources its chips and parts.

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