Lai was seen earlier on Mon visiting Abe’s residence with Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in order to Japan, Frank Hsieh, according to Japanese mass media reports.
Taiwan’s Presidential Office said it experienced no comment on the particular reports, but observed Lai was “a close friend for many years” with Abe and his family.
Japan Foreign Ministry has been unable to immediately comment, while its Taiwan counterpart said in the statement it would not really comment on Lai’s “personal schedule”. It did not elaborate.
Previously Monday, Taiwan Leader Tsai Ing-wen provided her condolences within a visit to Japan’s sobre facto embassy in Taipei, saying she is going to continue Abe’s heritage of closer Taiwan-Japan relationships and deepen ties between the 2 sides.
This wounderful woman has ordered Taiwan flags to be flown with half-staff through Monday to honour Abe, who was widely considered in Taiwan an important contributor to warming Taipei-Tokyo ties in recent years.