Premier Cho makes surprise visit to Japan for WBCBy Lin Tsuei-yi, Chung Li-hua and Chen Cheng-yu / Staff Reporters in Tokyo and TaipeiPremier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) attended the World Baseball Classic (WBC) game between Taiwan and the Czech Republic in Tokyo yesterday — the first time an incumbent Taiwanese premier has visited Japan since Taipei and Tokyo severed diplomatic ties in 1972. Taiwanese baseball fans greet Premier Cho Jung-tai, center, at the World Baseball Classic game between Taiwan and the Czech Republic in Tokyo yesterday. Sources said Cho arrived in Japan earlier yesterday, where an agreement was made with Japanese officials not to publicly disclose the details of his one-day whirlwind visit. At the meeting, Hagiuda mentioned that Cho was about to visit Japan, Kuo said, adding that he was surprised. Kuo described the visit as a breakthrough in “baseball diplomacy,” as it was the first time a sitting premier from Taiwan has visited Japan.

Source: Taipei Times March 07, 2026 17:17 UTC