A visiting Japanese lawmaker wants Japan to pass its own version of the US Taiwan Relations Act, but a key coalition partner is pumping the brakes and pointing to trade first — a modest positive for Taiwan, though nothing binding yet.

• Japan Conservative Party senator Kitamura Haruo, in Taipei with a delegation, said Japan should pass its own versions of the US Taiwan Relations Act and Taiwan Travel Act.
• Ishin co-leader Fujita Fumitake pushed back gently: the technical details need work, and the first priority is deeper economic ties with Taiwan.
• Ishin's stated focus is peace in East Asia and the western Pacific through stronger deterrence, a tighter alliance with the US, and closer ties with the Philippines and Australia.
• Ishin joined the coalition on a 48-point policy agreement with the LDP that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has promised to push through.
• On the coming cabinet reshuffle, Fujita said Takaichi will decide the appointments and dismissed most of this week's reports as fake news.

Outlook: Expect Japan to keep deepening trade and security ties with Taiwan while formal Taiwan legislation stays on the back burner, with the cabinet reshuffle due to be announced shortly.