US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Thursday reiterated the importance of cross-strait peace and stability during their first-ever trilateral summit at the White House in Washington.
“We affirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity, recognize that there is no change in our basic positions on Taiwan, and call for a peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues,” the leaders said in a joint statement.
Taiwan welcomes the statement of concern and steadfast support for peace and stability across the Strait from the heads of state of the US, Japan and the Philippines, Presidential Office spokesperson Olivia Lin (林聿禪) said in Taipei.
Photo: Reuters
The joint statement showed that an international consensus has formed on protecting peace amid expanding authoritarianism that threatens global security and order, she said.
Taiwan will continue to build up its self-defense capabilities and cooperate with like-minded countries to safeguard the rules-based international order and contribute to global peace, stability and prosperity, Lin said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Taiwan is a responsible international actor willing to collaborate with the three nations on maintaining peace, stability and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region.
The trilateral summit cemented the US-Japan-Philippines joint security mechanism, which forms part of a larger defense network against China, Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a research fellow at the Taipei- based Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told a forum in Taipei.
He cited discussions between Biden and Kishida on what is being called the greatest upgrade to the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the US and Japan since 1960, which would see the two countries engage in more coordinated command between US forces stationed in Japan and the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
This security network can operate in tandem with existing US-UK-Australia and US-Japan-South Korea security mechanisms to form a comprehensive regional security network against China, Su said.
Liao Hsiao-chuan (廖小娟), an associate professor of political science at National Taiwan University, said the trilateral summit marked Japan’s ascent from a regional ally to a global partner of the US’ global security strategy.
The summit also hinted at a potential growth of the US-led security framework in the region, as a strengthened Japan might provide a much-needed counterweight to China and North Korea should the US become isolationist by electing Donald Trump as president, she said.
The alliance between the US, Japan and the Philippines would be strong because of their shared interests in democratic values and the freedom of navigation in the region, said Hsiao Hsiu-an (蕭琇安), an associate research fellow at National Chengchi University’s Institute of International Relations.
However, Institute for National Policy Research senior adviser Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) said that the US’ efforts to shore up the Indo-Pacific is more remedial than suggestive of a military alliance.
Taiwan can find cause for caution in Washington’s flawed security strategy, inability to counter China’s “gray zone” tactics and Trump, he said.
Additional reporting by CNA
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
RSS