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The talks have spurred the ire of Beijing who condemned them as an affront to Chinese sovereignty.
Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece The Global Times warned: “Taking risks on the Taiwan question is tantamount to provoking a war.
“Japan’s playing tricks will only make itself lose on both sides – becoming cannon fodder for US interests on one hand and provoking the Chinese mainland and asking for trouble for itself on the other.”
Japanese naval forces are currently tied up in a training exercise with their “quad” partners, the US, Australia and India, in the Philippine Sea for the Malabar navy war games.
Lo Chih-cheng and Tsai Shih-ying from the DDP told reporters China had been a hot topic for discussion.
“From a certain perspective today’s talks represent the efforts of both governments to raise relations,” Mr Lo said.
“More importantly, even if the two sides face possible pressure from China, both sides can promise to express their strong willingness and hope that such a dialogue will continue.”
In a Facebook post, the DDP added: “There has long been solid friendship between Taiwan and Japan, and the cooperation between the two countries in various fields is getting closer.
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The document stressed: “It is necessary that we pay close attention to the [Taiwan] situation with a sense of crisis more than ever before.”
Mr Lo has brushed off Chinese accusations the defence talks send the “wrong message”, saying that kind of response was totally expected.
He said: “Taiwan, as a sovereign and independent country, has the right to promote bilateral and multilateral ties with all countries.”
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