Taiwan¡¯s No. 2 diplomat says the democratic island hopes to explore higher-level ¡°unofficial¡± meetings and interactions with Japan and other like-minded nations, as Taipei eyes new possibilities for increased engagement with partners to strengthen ties ¡°at every level.¡±

¡°We are very happy we can talk more and more with Japanese officials and diplomats, unofficially, without major obstacles,¡± Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu said in an exclusive interview last week in Taipei, highlighting a growing acceptance by Tokyo of this type of engagement with the self-ruled island.

¡°Japan feels more and more comfortable working with Taiwanese officials, unofficially,¡± the diplomat told The Japan Times, urging Tokyo to make more of the possibilities offered by this approach to strengthen the long and ¡°special¡± relationship between the two sides.