Taiwan to hold Cabinet-level meeting on relations with Japan+

TAIPEI, July 23 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Taiwan's Cabinet will hold a rare meeting next week to discuss how to strengthen ties with Japan amid recent strains in the bilateral relationship, according to a senior Taiwanese government official. The meeting, to be held July 31 among various ministers and other Cabinet-level leaders, will address recent tensions in Taiwan-Japan relations and how to boost those ties, the official told Kyodo News on condition of anonymity. Among the issues to be discussed, the official said, are possible passenger charter flights between Taipei's Songshan airport and Tokyo's Haneda airport, fishing rights in disputed waters in the East China Sea and implementing "working holiday" visas on a reciprocal basis. Recommendations from the discussions will be forwarded to President Ma Ying-jeou, while National... [read full story]