Japan to deepen ties with Taiwan, top LDP official says

TOKYO -- Japan seeks to deepen its relationship with Taiwan via legislative channels, a top official of the Japanese ruling party said Monday, the day that Lai Ching-te assumed the island's presidency.

"Taiwan is an important partner and irreplaceable friend with which we share the basic values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law," said Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, at its weekly conference here.