Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and cooperation with like-minded countries to defend the rules-based international order, the Presidential Office said yesterday after defense ministers from the US, Japan and Australia in a joint statement highlighted the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The US, Japan and Australia issued the statement after Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin convened the 14th Trilateral Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Darwin, Australia, on Sunday.
“We emphasize the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and call for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues,” the statement said.
Photo: Screen grab from Japan Ministry of Defense’s X account
Taiwan thanks its international partners for placing attention and emphasis on the situation in the Taiwan Strait and the region at large, Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said.
“The trilateral joint statement once again demonstrates that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is not only a critical regional issue, but also an essential element in global peace and prosperity,” she said.
The joint statement also reiterated strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion, and showed concern for issues in the East and South China seas.
“We reiterate our serious concern about destabilizing actions in the East and South China seas,” the joint statement said.
“It is important that all states are free to exercise rights and freedoms consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea,” it added.
Kuo said Taiwan stands on the frontline of defense for democracy and is a responsible member of the region, as well as the international community.
“Facing an increasingly complex regional situation, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and deepen its cooperative partnerships with the US, Japan, Australia and other like-minded countries to jointly defend the rules-based international order,” she added.
Additional reporting by Lee I-chia
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