Taiwan's legislature hosted a visiting delegation from Japan's Innovation Party in Taichung, a friendly sign for Taipei as it seeks more international backing.

• Deputy Legislative Speaker Chiang Chi-chen thanked the party for backing Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Assembly and the CPTPP trade bloc.
• Talks covered direct Taiwan–Japan flights, city development, and the sports business.
• Chiang pitched Taichung and Osaka as natural partners — both are manufacturing hubs outside their capitals, strong in machinery, aerospace, and tech research.
• Both sides want more cooperation on AI, smart factories, and shifting supply chains, plus shared work on traffic, aging populations, and disaster readiness.
• Japan's side noted about 170 sister-city ties already link the two countries and wants more local-government partnerships.

Outlook: Expect more business, youth, and city-level exchanges between Taichung and Osaka, with Taiwan leaning on Japanese support in its push for WHA and CPTPP entry.