Photo/Illutration Koichi Hagiuda, the policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on Dec. 10. (Kohei Morioka)

The recent visit to Taiwan by Koichi Hagiuda, policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, could signal his plans to take up the mantle of slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Hagiuda’s Dec. 10-12 trip to Taiwan was the first by an LDP executive in 19 years.

Although Tokyo does not have diplomatic relations with Taipei, Abe was decidedly pro-Taiwan. After he stepped down as prime minister in 2020, he said that any military attack on Taiwan should be considered an attack on Japan.

Abe also led the largest LDP faction before his assassination in July. But because of his huge political presence, the faction has been unable to decide on a successor.

Hagiuda, a longtime associate of Abe, is a leading member of the faction.

The visit to Taiwan can be seen as a sign that he is preparing to take over the faction.

Hagiuda was invited to Taiwan by a private-sector organization. Abe was originally scheduled to visit in September.

During his trip, Hagiuda touched upon the need to strengthen ties with Taiwan.

He also said, “While it would be presumptuous of me to call myself the heir to the late former prime minister, I will do everything I can.”

Hagiuda visited the grave of Lee Teng-hui, the former Taiwanese president who pushed for democratization, with a daughter of the late politician.

“He is likely looking over us as we strive to further develop relations between our two nations,” Hagiuda said.

He also met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who showed high expectations for the LDP policy chief when she said, “I am confident that the strong belief held by former Prime Minister Abe regarding friendship between Taiwan and Japan will be continued under Hagiuda.”

LDP executives have not made many trips to Taiwan out of consideration for China, which considers the island as part of its territory.

Exchanges with Taiwan have centered on the LDP’s Youth Division.

Abe’s interest in forging stronger ties with Taiwan stemmed from his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, the former prime minister who was an influential member of the pro-Taiwan lobby within the LDP in his lifelong fight against communism.

Kishi continued to develop relations with Taiwan even after Japan normalized relations with China in 1972.

While the visit to Taiwan may have been an attempt by Hagiuda to maneuver himself as the faction successor to Abe, other members are also poising themselves to eventually take over.

Another group of LDP lawmakers, led by Hiroshige Seko, secretary-general of the LDP’s Upper House caucus who is also an influential member of the LDP faction once led by Abe, will visit Taiwan before year-end.

A major reason the faction has been unable to name a successor to Abe is that many senior members, including Hagiuda, have been linked to the Unification Church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

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