Following the release of a joint statement by Australia and Canada last Friday on the strengthening of their bilateral defense relationship, the Foreign Ministry responded with appreciation for their support of cross-strait peace and stability. The Foreign Ministry welcomed Australia’s and Canada’s sentiment and said Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded partners to defend democracy and jointly uphold peace and stability.
The joint statement reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, opposed any unilateral changes to the status quo, and called for a peaceful resolution of differences through dialogue without threats or the use of force. It also highlighted the importance of deterring conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region and expressed concern over China's increased military activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.
Over the past month, various high-level meetings and dialogues such as the United States-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Chiefs of Defense Meeting, the Philippines-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, and the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations have all underscored the importance of peace in the Taiwan Strait in their joint statements. The ministry pointed out that maintaining the security of the Taiwan Strait has become a shared consensus among democratic nations. It emphasized that as a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to collaborate with Canada, Australia, and other like-minded partners to contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait, the region, and the world.