Taiwan premier’s Japan WBC trip sparks diplomatic ripples and domestic scrutiny

A privately funded trip by Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) to attend a World Baseball Classic (WBC) game in Tokyo, Japan has evolved into a multifaceted episode: hailed by some as “baseball diplomacy,” while triggering protests from Beijing and a formal investigation at home.

A controversial trip takes shape

Premier Cho’s recent trip to Tokyo to watch the WBC has drawn scrutiny far beyond the stadium. According to Cho, he financed the trip personally and framed it as a private visit to support Taiwan’s national team, which competed under the name Chinese Taipei.

Many in Taiwan praised the visit as an act of "baseball diplomacy." Yet the optics proved contentious as the trip drew backlash from both Beijing and domestic critics alike.

The controversy intensified when allegations surfaced over travel arrangements concerning the reported use of Songshan Air Force Base Command.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office opened an investigation into possible misconduct. While no charges have been filed, the inquiry underscores mounting domestic pressure against Cho.

Diplomatic breakthrough — or political misstep?

In Japan, Cho’s presence was not treated as a formal diplomatic visit, but it still carried symbolic weight. Taiwan and Japan share deep sporting and cultural ties, particularly through baseball — a legacy of historical connections and sustained exchange.

Japanese officials declined to comment when asked about Cho’s visit, saying it was regarded as a private civilian engagement rather than a state-level interaction, thereby sidestepping potential diplomatic friction.

According to China Times, on March 7, Sun Weidong (孙卫东), vice minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, lodged a protest by telephone with Japan’s ambassador to China over Cho’s visit. The Chinese embassy in Tokyo also conveyed its protest to the Japanese government.

Baseball diplomacy according to its supporters

People supporting Cho’s trip to Japan cast the visit as an instance of “baseball diplomacy,” emphasizing Taiwan’s use of soft power to bolster its international visibility.

Chen Fang-yu (陳方隅), a political scientist at Soochow University, told TCN that political pressure from China often keeps Taiwan’s political leaders from appearing openly at international sporting events. He said that pressure was precisely why Cho described the trip as private. 

He noted that China has long constrained Taiwan’s diplomatic space, rendering it both difficult and narrow. As such, even what could have been seen as a breakthrough in “baseball diplomacy” must be framed as personal visits to avoid burdening Japan and compromising future exchanges.

He added that past presidents, vice presidents, premiers and other high level officials of Taiwan have also described visits as personal trips when traveling to countries without formal diplomatic ties to Taiwan.

Chen added that similar patterns have emerged recently: Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung's (林佳龍) appearance in Australia in March, Lin's and senior national security officials' visits to Europe last year, and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim's (蕭美琴) public address in the European Parliament building. 

Though these were all framed as unofficial private visits, Chen said they still drew considerable international media attention. In his view, while the government has maintained that Premier Cho’s trip was personal, both the Taiwanese public — accustomed to Beijing’s pressure — and Chinese authorities understand the underlying implications.

Beijing, he argued, is wary of such precedents, as Cho’s presence in Tokyo could signal the possibility of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) likewise visiting Japan, or even senior Taiwanese leaders appearing in Washington.

Similarly, Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), a senior presidential adviser and former representative to Japan, wrote on social media that labeling Cho's trip as privately funded reflects a long-term diplomatic strategy. Diplomacy, he said, is relational and depends on mutual trust and sensitivity. 

Hsieh further underscored Taiwan’s deeply pluralistic political landscape, with nearly half of voters supporting opposition parties. Given that diversity, he said, any misuse of public funds disguised as private spending would be quickly exposed through scrutiny or whistleblowing, making deception improbable.

As for the use of Songshan Air Force Base Command instead of Taoyuan International Airport, he explained that such decisions are typically guided by security assessments aimed at minimizing exposure and ensuring operational safety, making the arrangement both rational and procedurally sound.

He further highlighted the fact that figures from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) such as Eric Chu (朱立倫), who served as the party’s presidential candidate and chairman, as well as former KMT legislator Fai Hrong-tai (費鴻泰) have likewise characterized the trip as a diplomatic breakthrough.

Tacit approval from Japan, says Taiwan-based Japanese think tank

Indo-Pacific Strategic Think Tank CEO Yaita Akio said at Taiwan Inspiration Association’s Annual Summit on March 15 that based on his understanding, the trip could not have proceeded without tacit approval from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

He further noted that Takaichi has repeatedly voiced support for Taiwan, even when drawing retaliatory measures from Beijing aimed at forcing Tokyo to soften its stance.

He further stated that he shares an academic affiliation with Takaichi and had, for a considerable period, maintained regular monthly contact with her.

Former MOFA head: Songshan use understandable

Pierre Yang Tzu-pao (楊子葆), a former acting foreign minister and ex–vice president at state-owned China Airlines, said chartered flights operated by the carrier are common practice.

Given the airline’s unique historical role as a crucial external conduit for Taiwan, he argued that such arrangements are both reasonable and necessary. The airline also has broader access to aircraft and alternate airports than military transport units.

He illustrated that, in a contingency scenario where a chartered flight could not land at Taoyuan, coordination with military facilities such as Songshan would be entirely feasible and understandable.

Taiwan’s diplomatic reality, he continued, often necessitates indirect and unconventional methods to achieve goals efficiently. Even if Cho was traveling in a private capacity, Yang added, he remains Taiwan's sitting premier. 

Domestic investigation in a baseball-loving nation

The political ramifications of Cho’s trip continue to unfold in Taiwan. The New Party, which strongly supports unification with China and received 0.29% of votes in the latest legislative elections, filed a formal report with the Taipei District Prosecutors Office. It alleged that Cho may have violated the Anti-Corruption Act and criminal codes related to abuse of authority.

The New Party stated that under existing regulations, civilian aircraft are not permitted to enter or exit restricted zones without prior authorization. If Cho’s trip is deemed private, it said, questions remain over whether the use of a military facility for takeoff and landing complied with established procedures.

The case has now entered the investigative phase, with prosecutors tasked with examining the substance of the report, cross-referencing relevant documentation, and reviewing the actual travel arrangements.

Cho reiterated on March 17 that the trip was both lawful and personally funded, rejecting allegations of misconduct. Nonetheless, the case has become a flashpoint in Taiwan’s broader political discourse.

The debate comes amid surging enthusiasm for baseball. Thousands of Taiwanese fans traveled to Japan for the WBC, filling stadiums with cheering supporters.

Often called Taiwan’s national sport, baseball holds deep cultural significance. The excitement has grown since Taiwan’s 2024 victory over Japan to win the WBSC Premier12 championship — a milestone that energized fans and boosted national pride.

That momentum carried into this year’s WBC, where more than 40,000 fans attended Taiwan’s four games at Tokyo Dome, trailing only Japan’s attendance.

A baseball fan named Pan who travelled to Tokyo told TCN that it is a pity that people are talking "more about the messy politics rather than the games."

Ultimately, the episode encapsulates the complexity of Taiwan’s international position — where even a sporting event can touch the fraught intersections of diplomacy, domestic politics, and cross-strait tensions.

Whether it will be remembered as an innovative exercise in soft power or a lapse in political judgment remains blurry and may depend on the outcome of the prosecutors’ investigation.