Taiwan's opposition KMT is courting Japan's political class to rebuild ties and sell itself as the party that can keep the Taiwan Strait calm — a neutral-to-positive signal for cross-strait stability, but a challenge to the ruling DPP's standing in Tokyo.

• KMT Vice Chairman Chang Jung-kung met a string of Japanese lawmakers from across the political spectrum and gave an interview to the Yomiuri Shimbun.
• The KMT admits a decade out of power left its Japan ties thin, and it is now rebuilding them as it prepares to try to win back the presidency in 2028.
• Chang blamed the DPP's years in office for a tense strait, pointing to six Chinese military drills around Taiwan and a total breakdown in official cross-strait talks.
• The pitch to Tokyo: the KMT's "1992 Consensus, oppose independence" line has kept the peace for 30 years, and China has held no encirclement drills so far this year since KMT chair Cheng Li-wun met Xi Jinping in April.
• The KMT's message to Japan is that if Taiwan has no crisis, Japan will not face one either.

Outlook: Expect the KMT to keep expanding its outreach to Japan and other governments ahead of 2028, framing itself as the safer choice on China.