Taiwanese power brokers seemed upbeat Tuesday on the possibility that Taro Aso, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, would become Japan's next prime minister.
But the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry predicted stable relations with Tokyo no matter who replaces Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
Fukuda announced his resignation Monday amid sagging opinion polls and economic woes, while the LDP has set a party vote on Sept. 22 to decide his successor.
"No matter who becomes the next prime minister, we will continue to promote a strong, stable friendship with Japan," said Lai Shin-yuan, Taiwan's top official for policy implementation on China, after meeting Tokyo's envoy in Taipei, Masaki Saito, on Tuesday to "exchange views."