The unwavering support for cross-strait peace recently expressed by the transits of two warships through the Taiwan Strait and a joint statement released by Australian and Japanese ministers is deeply appreciated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
According to the MOFA, the Canadian Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec and the Australian guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane traversed the Taiwan Strait Sept. 6. The ministry called the move a demonstration of the countries’ emphasis on freedom of navigation and peace in the region that simultaneously asserted their stance that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway.
The transit of HMCS Ville de Quebec marked the year’s second for the North American country and the seventh since it published its Indo-Pacific Strategy in November 2022, the MOFA said. It added that HMAS Brisbane was the first Australian warship to travel the strait this year to demonstrate Australia’s determination to defend regional stability.
The transits followed a joint statement released after the 12th Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministerial Consultations Sept. 5 in Tokyo. The statement reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an essential element of regional and international security and prosperity. The ministers further reiterated their strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion and emphasized that cross-strait issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
The MOFA said that the expansion of authoritarian regimes that challenge the rules-based international order causes turbulence on a global scale. As a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific community, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with like-minded partners to jointly defend universal values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. (YCH-E)
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