Two days before Chinese President Hu Jintao signed a historic joint statement with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in Tokyo, another historic, albeit quiet, agreement emerged between Japan and Taiwan.
On May 5, Tokyo and Taipei formalized a cooperation pact on aviation safety, paving the way for the informal allies to bolster joint investigations into aviation accidents and share relevant information.
From "goodwill pacts" on recognizing each other's driving licenses to establishing tourist visa waivers, Japan and Taiwan have recently inked a string of agreements that underscore their strong and growing ties.
However, experts say the aviation safety agreement exudes a political symbolism that is rare and revealing of just how strong those ties are.