A weekend appearance by Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai at Tokyo Dome, where he cheered on his island’s team at the World Baseball Classic, has created a geopolitical storm.

But the real significance of this match lies beyond the stadium. It’s a signal that Tokyo and Taipei are testing how much Beijing can practically control their engagement.

Cho’s presence was notable: He is the first sitting Taiwanese premier to visit Japan since 1972 when Tokyo severed diplomatic ties with Taipei and recognized the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government.

© The Japan Times