The US and Australia yesterday issued a joint statement to emphasize the role of the two nations’ defensive alliance in securing peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, including countering Chinese aggression toward Taiwan.
The statement followed a ministers’ summit in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (黃英賢) and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles.
The ministers affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, their opposition to unilateral changes to the “status quo,” and called for the peaceful solution of differences without using force or coercion.
Photo: AFP
The US and Australia expressed “strong concern regarding China’s military and coast guard activity around Taiwan,” they said, adding that their governments are committed to Taiwan’s “meaningful participation in international organizations.”
In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the US and Australia for supporting Taiwan at the annual Australia-US Ministerial Consultations over the past five years.
Taiwan thanked the ministers for unequivocally registering their concern over the provocative actions of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the China Coast Guard around Taiwan, it said.
The deluge of joint statements from the ministerial consultations of the US and like-minded countries is evidence of a global consensus about the importance of maintaining Taiwan’s security, the ministry said.
“Taiwan is a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific region and will continue to collaborate with like-minded nations to defend an international order based on shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” it said.
Institute of Policy Research chief executive officer Wang Hong-zen (王宏仁) said the reference in the US-Australian joint statement to the China Coast Guard highlighted the recognition that China’s “gray zone” activities are a menace not only to Taiwan, but to the whole region.
Taiwan should aim to integrate its bilateral cooperative arrangements with Western nations within the greater multilateral framework of international cooperation in maritime search and rescue, the environment and security, Wang said.
Institute consultant Chen Wen-jia (陳文甲) said the US-Australia summit showed that the two nations can no longer turn a blind eye to Beijing’s saber-rattling around Taiwan, which represents a challenge to their strategic interests.
The ministers’ opposition to unilateral changes and use of force across the Taiwan Strait is a warning to Beijing to cease its proactive behavior and avoid increasing the risk of armed conflict, Chen said.
The Taiwanese passport ranked 33rd in a global listing of passports by convenience this month, rising three places from last month’s ranking, but matching its position in January last year. The Henley Passport Index, an international ranking of passports by the number of designations its holder can travel to without a visa, showed that the Taiwan passport enables holders to travel to 139 countries and territories without a visa. Singapore’s passport was ranked the most powerful with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227, according to the index published on Tuesday by UK-based migration investment consultancy firm Henley and Partners. Japan’s and
NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT: An official said that Guan Guan’s comments had gone beyond the threshold of free speech, as she advocated for the destruction of the ROC China-born media influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China content that threatens national security, the National Immigration Agency said yesterday. Guan Guan has said many controversial things in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” while expressing hope for expedited “reunification.” The agency received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification last year. After investigating, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and account for her actions. Guan Guan appeared as required,
Japan and the Philippines yesterday signed a defense pact that would allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food and other necessities when their forces stage joint training to boost deterrence against China’s growing aggression in the region and to bolster their preparation for natural disasters. Japan has faced increasing political, trade and security tensions with China, which was angered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would be a survival-threatening situation for Japan, triggering a military response. Japan and the Philippines have also had separate territorial conflicts with Beijing in the East and South China
A strong cold air mass is expected to arrive tonight, bringing a change in weather and a drop in temperature, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The coldest time would be early on Thursday morning, with temperatures in some areas dipping as low as 8°C, it said. Daytime highs yesterday were 22°C to 24°C in northern and eastern Taiwan, and about 25°C to 28°C in the central and southern regions, it said. However, nighttime lows would dip to about 15°C to 16°C in central and northern Taiwan as well as the northeast, and 17°C to 19°C elsewhere, it said. Tropical Storm Nokaen, currently
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