Taiwan and Japan are talking up closer defense ties, a mild positive for Taipei as it looks for friends in the region.

• Taiwan's deputy legislative speaker Chiang Chi-chen hosted Japanese lawmaker Gen Nakatani and his delegation in Taipei.
• Nakatani, a former Japanese defense minister, has repeatedly said peace in the Taiwan Strait matters for global security.
• Japan is reviewing its own defense plans, including better pay for troops and new drone technology.
• Both sides pointed to the US-Japan alliance and the first island chain as key to keeping the region stable.
• The talks covered defense policy, regional security, and technology cooperation, with more information sharing promised.

Outlook: Expect more of these quiet exchanges between Taipei and Tokyo as pressure in the Indo-Pacific keeps building.