Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia Lung is confirming his visit to Japan
last month, emphasizing that China's reaction to the trip will not affect
relations between Taipei and Tokyo.

This marks the first time Lin has publicly acknowledged the reported trip.

While this is not the first visit to Japan by a Taiwanese diplomat, such
trips are rarely disclosed due to the absence of official diplomatic
relations between Taiwan and Japan.

Lin said that he visited the Expo 2025 in Osaka and met with Japanese
friends.

Lin's visit was previously revealed by Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya, a
longtime supporter of Taiwan.

Furuya said that he had met with Lin last month and posted a photo taken with
Lin and Taiwan's representative to Japan, Li Yi Yang.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later said that Lin's visit was made in a
private capacity.

China reacted strongly to the trip, postponing a Japan-China agricultural
ministers' meeting originally set to take place this past Monday...

and accusing Japan of "providing a stage for anti-China separatists
activities."

(AH-CNA)