A group of Japanese lawmakers wants Japan to pass its own versions of the Taiwan Travel Act and Taiwan Relations Act, a boost for Taiwan as it looks for stronger regional backing against China.

• A visiting Japanese parliamentary group focused on Taiwan Strait stability told President Lai Ching-te it will push for laws opening high-level government contacts and defense cooperation with Taiwan.
• Group head Kitamura Haruo said Taiwan is a close friend and Japan would do everything it could if Taiwan faced danger, pointing to Taiwan's large aid after Japan's 2011 earthquake.
• Lai said China is raising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas through military moves, gray-zone pressure and cross-border crackdowns, and only united democracies can deter it.
• Taiwan's defense spending is now 3% of the economy and set to rise above that next year, with a target of 5% by 2030, plus a push into homegrown weapons, AI and drones.
• Lai wants deeper Taiwan-Japan work on semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, drones and robots.

Outlook: Any Japanese law would take time and face pushback from Beijing, but closer Taiwan-Japan defense and tech ties look set to keep building.