A visiting Japanese parliamentary group says Taiwan and Japan should build complementary defense ties, a signal of warming relations that will likely irritate Beijing.

• A Japan Innovation Party delegation led by Nobuyuki Baba wrapped up a three-day Taipei visit and met President Lai Ching-te.
• Both sides agreed to deepen ties in defense, economics, tourism, culture, and disaster response, with drones singled out as an area where each country's strengths could fill the other's gaps.
• Lai told the group Taiwan wants to sharply raise defense spending but is being blocked in the legislature.
• Japan plans to revise its three core security documents by the end of the year, and the Innovation Party wants higher military spending, a homegrown arms industry, and permission to export weapons.
• The party's policy pact with the ruling LDP covers 48 items and never mentions Taiwan, but its push to strengthen Japan's own power is framed as benefiting neighbors.

Outlook: Expect more Taiwan-Japan parliamentary contact and a harder Japanese defense posture as Tokyo rewrites its security documents this winter.