Taiwan is deepening its economic ties with southern Japan, and TSMC's chip plants in Kyushu are now the anchor of that relationship — good news for both sides' growth prospects.

• Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim met the governor of Japan's Oita prefecture and said TSMC's Kyushu investment has pulled the two economies closer in industry and supply chains.
• Those links are now described as a key base for continued prosperity and growth on both sides.
• The relationship runs deeper than business: Taiwan and Kyushu have repeatedly helped each other through natural disasters.
• Tourism and people-to-people exchange are the next area both sides want to expand, with Oita already a popular destination for Taiwanese travelers.

Outlook: Expect more Taiwan-Japan cooperation deals as TSMC's Kyushu footprint grows, with tourism and local business exchanges the likely next step.