Japan and Taiwan are pushing to tie their economies closer together, framed as a hedge against pressure from China — good news for the chip trade on both sides.

• A senior Japanese lawmaker and former agriculture minister spent three days in Taipei meeting foreign ministry, economy ministry and agriculture officials.
• Both sides want deeper cooperation on supply chains, plus more trade, tourism, farming and fishing links.
• Chips are the anchor: Taiwan's central role in the global semiconductor supply chain is now treated as a national security matter, not just business.
• TSMC's plant in Kumamoto was held up as proof the partnership pays off, lifting local industry in southern Japan.
• Taiwan pressed the shared threat angle — both sit on the first island chain and face Chinese military and gray-zone pressure.

Outlook: Expect more Japan-Taiwan deals on chips, farming and economic security, with Beijing likely to object.