A visiting Japanese lawmaker delegation says Tokyo and Taipei must work together on defense, a positive signal for Taiwan but one that will irritate Beijing.

• Japan's Ishin party is set to join a coalition government with the ruling LDP, signing a deal covering 48 policy pledges that Prime Minister Takaichi has promised to push.
• The delegation met President Lai Ching-te in Taipei and discussed raising Japan's military spending, building up its defense industry, and revising Japan's three main security documents.
• Lai said he wants a bigger defense budget but is stuck fighting Taiwan's legislature over it.
• Drones, space, cyber and electronic warfare were floated as areas where Japanese and Taiwanese strengths could fill each other's gaps.
• China's Global Times attacked Japanese lawmakers for visiting both Taipei and Beijing, calling it two-faced diplomacy.

Outlook: Expect a Japanese cabinet reshuffle bringing Ishin into government, with the coalition pushing a more assertive security posture that deepens unofficial ties with Taiwan.