A large delegation of Japanese lawmakers is in Taipei for talks, a positive sign for Taiwan as it looks for friends amid pressure from China.

• Thirteen members of the Japan Innovation Party arrived in Taiwan for a three-day visit, led by party head Nobuyuki Baba.
• They will meet President Lai Ching-te, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, the legislature, and Taiwan's national security council.
• This is the first big delegation the party has sent since joining Japan's governing coalition, which gives the trip more weight.
• The party has backed Taiwan for years, including donating money after the 2024 Hualien earthquake.
• Talks will focus on Taiwan-Japan ties and security across the Taiwan Strait and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Outlook: Expect closer Taiwan-Japan cooperation and likely irritation from Beijing, which opposes official contact with Taipei.