TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Japan and Taiwan signed a classified security memorandum to prevent Chinese intelligence operatives from infiltrating Japan during emergency evacuations, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Tuesday (Aug. 19). The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association (日本台灣交流協會) and Association of Taiwan-Japan Relations (台灣日本關係協會), Taiwan's quasi-diplomatic representatives, concluded the agreement Dec. 18. The cooperation framework targets intelligence sharing to identify Chinese spies disguised as Taiwanese nationals during crisis situations.
Japanese officials declined to reveal specific details of the security arrangement, maintaining strict confidentiality around the memorandum's operational mechanisms. Intelligence sources confirmed the screening system would identify individuals potentially threatening Japan's domestic security during mass population movements. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs documented approximately 21,700 Japanese nationals residing in Taiwan as of last October, creating substantial evacuation logistics challenges during potential regional emergencies.
Immigration authorities expressed concerns that hostile intelligence agents or terrorists could exploit evacuation chaos to penetrate Japanese territory undetected. The memorandum specifically addresses these security vulnerabilities by establishing preventive measures against infiltration and subsequent illegal activities within Japan. Japan's Immigration Services Agency maintains similar agreements with Australia and New Zealand, though evacuation-focused security arrangements represent a relatively uncommon diplomatic instrument.
Japan's 1972 diplomatic recognition of China severed official government relations with Taiwan, necessitating the use of representative organizations rather than formal state institutions for the memorandum signing. Tokyo aims to strengthen evacuation cooperation for Japanese nationals stationed in Taiwan through enhanced bilateral coordination mechanisms. Japanese officials plan to collaborate with the United States and allied nations to develop comprehensive emergency response frameworks addressing potential regional crisis scenarios. ◼