The Group of Seven leaders’ affirmation of the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and support for the country’s meaningful participation in international organizations are sincerely appreciated, the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said June 15.
The statements appeared in a communique issued on the final day of the G7 Summit held June 13-15 in Apulia, Italy. This is the fourth consecutive show of support from the grouping of industrialized nations, according to the MOFA.
In the communique, G7 leaders said cross-strait peace and stability is indispensable to international security and prosperity, adding that they called for a peaceful resolution of relevant issues. They also expressed backing for Taiwan’s engagement in global bodies, including the World Health Assembly and technical meetings of the World Health Organization.
The situations in the East and South China Seas are also concerning, the leaders said, reiterating their strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion and to China’s repeated obstruction of freedom of navigation.
In addition, G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and expressed concerns about China’s comprehensive nonmarket policies and practices, which have had global spillovers and led to market distortions. They added that measures like de-risking and diversifying supply chains can foster resilience against economic coercion.
In response, the PO said that Taiwan stands on the front line of defending democracy and is a responsible member of the international community. Despite China’s gray-zone threats and hybrid economic and political coercion, the country will continue to work with like-minded partners to jointly safeguard the universal values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights and the rule of law, it added. (YCH-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw