Taipei: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) confirmed Tuesday that Taiwan and Japan have previously signed an agreement to promote information exchange and cooperation on border management with Japan, though it did not disclose more details on the pact. MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuangwei stated that the ministry is happy to see that the two countries continue to enhance cooperation on immigration control, particularly because Taiwan and Japan “share a deep friendship and frequent people-to-people exchanges.”

According to Focus Taiwan, a list on the National Immigration Agency (NIA) website indicates that Taiwan has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on immigration and border control affairs with 23 countries. Japan is noted at the bottom of the list, specifying that an MOU on information exchange and cooperation in border security and management with Japan was signed on December 18, 2024. However, the NIA neither issued a press release on the MOU signed late last year nor disclosed any details of the agreement.

Hsiao’s comments were made after the Japanese media Yomiuri Shinbun reported earlier Tuesday that such a pact was signed in December 2024. The Japanese-language report quoted unnamed Japanese sources as revealing that Taiwan and Japan signed the MOU regarding the sharing of information on foreign nationals entering Japan from Taiwan in the event of an emergency in Taiwan. By sharing information on foreign nationals evacuating in the event of an emergency, including a Chinese invasion, the aim is to prevent Chinese spies from taking advantage of such a chaotic situation to enter Japan.

According to sources, under the memorandum, Japan will receive information on foreign nationals wishing to enter the country from Taiwan. This will enable Tokyo to effectively screen those who may harm domestic security in the event of an emergency, the newspaper said. The Immigration Services Agency of Japan has signed similar pacts with countries such as Australia and New Zealand, but it is unusual for Tokyo to have such a pact with a non-ally.

Due to the sensitivity of the issue, Japan’s de facto embassy in Taiwan, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, asked that the content of the MOU be listed as confidential, the Japanese report said.