The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday thanked the UK and Sweden for jointly reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and responding to China’s challenge.
The remarks came two days after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson met in London to discuss foreign policy, including China issues.
“We will protect national security, cooperate with partners and engage with China where it is consistent with our national interests and security,” the prime ministers were quoted as saying in a British government statement.
Photo: CNA
In Taipei, the ministry said in a news release that it “acknowledges and welcomes” the expression of support from Taiwan’s democratic partners in handling the security threat posed by China.
The leaders of the UK and Sweden once again upheld the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait in a display of concern for the situation in the region, it said, adding that Taiwan is committed to deepening cooperation with the two European states.
Taiwan stands at the front line in defense of freedom and democracy, and is resolved to strengthen democratic resilience and solidarity among democracies to facilitate a peaceful and prosperous future, the ministry said.
Sunak expressed concern about tensions between Taiwan and China at the Franco-British summit in March and during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the ministry said.
Kristersson at the Stockholm China Forum last month warned that a rise in cross-strait tensions would jeopardize the safety of Taiwanese, the West’s regional partners and Europe, it added.
Meanwhile, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that Taiwan’s collaboration with the EU was important for global security.
“Taiwan and the European Union are important partners that share such values as democracy, freedom and human rights,” Tsai said at a reception for the first delegation from the EU to visit Taiwan this year.
She thanked the EU for “passing a number of resolutions in recent years that have focused on Taiwan Strait’s security issues.”
Separately, a poll released yesterday in Australia showed that respondents would back imposing sanctions on Beijing and sending arms to aid Taiwan were China to attack, but not deploying troops.
In the annual survey conducted by the Lowy Institute, 82 percent of respondents supported the nation’s security alliance with the US, although 75 percent believed that the alliance would draw Australia into a conflict in Asia.
Eighty percent said they would support “accepting Taiwanese refugees into Australia,” 76 percent backed economic and diplomatic sanctions on China, 64 percent supported sending arms and military supplies to Taiwan and 61 percent would support “using the Australian Navy to help prevent China from imposing a blockade around Taiwan,” the Lowy Institute said in a report.
However, only 42 percent backed sending Australian military personnel to Taiwan, it said.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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