Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry expressed appreciation for the joint statement issued by South Korea and New Zealand on September 4, which emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The joint statement was issued following a summit meeting between New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. Luxon officially visited South Korea from September 4 to 5.
In the joint statement, both sides reaffirmed the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, as outlined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They emphasized that UNCLOS provides the legal framework for all maritime activities and agreed on the importance of resolving disputes peacefully according to international law. Both sides also highlighted the critical need to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and expressed serious concerns about recent developments in the South China Sea.
In response, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry issued a press release on the evening of the same day thanking New Zealand and South Korea. It said that Taiwan is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and opposes any changes to the status quo. It adds that Taiwan will continue to promote value-based diplomacy to jointly uphold democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.