The unwavering support for cross-strait peace expressed in a joint statement released by Australian and Japanese defense ministers is deeply appreciated, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Dec. 8.
Released after the meeting of Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, and Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi, Dec. 7 in Tokyo, the statement reaffirmed that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is essential for regional and international security and prosperity. The ministers reiterated strong opposition to unilateral action aimed at changing the status quo by force or coercion, and emphasized that cross-strait issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue.
In response, the MOFA said China’s continued military expansion and provocative actions in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Pacific is posing a threat to regional and global security, citing the recent incident of China’s fighter jets locking radar on Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft. The ministry added that it will pay close attention to the regional situation and urged China to cease any disorderly behavior that would escalate and jeopardize security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
As a responsible member of the global community, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capability and whole-of-society resilience, the MOFA said, adding that it will continue to work closely with democracies to safeguard rules-based international order and peace, prosperity and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific. (YCH-E)
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