Taiwan crushed Czechia 14-0 in seven innings on Saturday at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool C preliminary round, securing its first win. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) was spotted in the stands at Tokyo Dome by reporters and fans, who chanted “Hello Premier” and “Team Taiwan.”

Cho arrived in Japan that morning and attended with Taiwan’s Representative to Japan Lee I-yang ( 李逸洋) and Sports Minister Lee Yang (李洋), sources said. 

Taiwan had lost earlier games to Australia and Japan. Cho recently posted on Facebook, urging fans to love Team Taiwan beyond just wins. He left in the bottom of the sixth, the second half of the sixth inning, after Taiwan built a big lead, accompanied by Lee I-yang and Lee Yang.

Taiwan starter Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (莊陳仲敖), a U.S. based pitcher, faced Czech lefty Jan Novak. After Stuart Fairchild’s grand slam sparked the offense, and with Yu Chang (張育成) contributing 3 hits and 4 runs batted in (RBIs), Taiwan ultimately defeated Czechia 14-0 in 7 innings.

Cho appears to be the first premier to visit Japan since diplomatic ties ended in 1972. Past Premier Frank Chang-ting Hsieh (謝長廷) visited after leaving office. The Cabinet has not yet commented on Premier Cho’s appearance at the Tokyo Dome.