Japan will find a like-minded ally in Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te, who hopes to build even stronger ties with Tokyo as both look warily at China¡¯s designs on the self-ruled island.

Lai described his win in Saturday¡¯s election as a ¡°victory for the community of democracies,¡± and signaled that his administration would look to deepen cooperation with Japan by meeting with Tokyo¡¯s de facto ambassador and a Japanese lawmaker just a day after the poll in Taipei.

Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association chief Mitsuo Ohashi held talks with Lai and his running mate, Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan¡¯s former top envoy to the United States, at the headquarters of Taiwan¡¯s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, with the president-elect noting that the neighbors are both ¡°concerned about regional peace and stability,¡± .