https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/20250819-OYT1T50016/
Japan and Taiwan Sign Rare Agreement to Share Information on Evacuees from a Taiwan Contingency
It has been revealed that Japan and Taiwan have signed a rare cooperation memorandum to share information on foreigners entering Japan from Taiwan, with a potential Taiwan contingency in mind. The goal is to prevent operatives from taking advantage of the chaos during an emergency to enter Japan and carry out sabotage.
Multiple sources from the Japanese side have confirmed this. The signing of a memorandum between Japanese and Taiwanese authorities with a Taiwan contingency in mind is considered exceptional.
The memorandum is titled "Memorandum on Cooperation Concerning Information Sharing on Matters Related to Immigration Control." The agreement was signed between Japan's de facto embassy, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, and its Taiwanese counterpart, the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, on December 18 of last year. The contents of the memorandum are officially undisclosed.
According to sources, based on the memorandum, the Japanese side will receive information on foreigners who wish to enter Japan from Taiwan. As a result, in an emergency, it will be able to effectively conduct screening to check for individuals who could pose a threat to Japan's domestic security. Even during peacetime, pre-departure checks on passengers heading to Japan are conducted at Taiwanese airports.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of last October, there were approximately 21,700 Japanese nationals residing in Taiwan. In the event of a Chinese invasion and a Taiwan contingency, a large number of Japanese residents would be evacuated, and it is also expected that local Taiwanese and other foreigners would seek refuge in Japan. There are concerns within immigration circles that foreign operatives or terrorists could infiltrate the country by exploiting the chaos.
A Japanese official expressed concern, stating, "There is a possibility that Chinese operatives could enter Japan disguised as Taiwanese citizens."
by 100rad