The joint statement issued by U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron stressing the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is sincerely welcomed by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
According to the MOFA, the statement followed a meeting between the two heads of state Dec. 1 in Washington D.C. It is also the first time that cross-strait security has been included in a joint statement by the two countries, the ministry added.
During a meeting Dec. 1-2 in Washington D.C., U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino also expressed concern about Chinese provocation increasing crisis risk in the Strait.
The two officials emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the area, where the U.S. and EU have clear interests and both regional and global security and prosperity are at stake. They opposed any unilateral action to undermine the status quo and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.
The MOFA said the two statements reflect a growing consensus from the democratic world on the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace and stability.
As authoritarian regimes constantly challenge rules-based international order, Taiwan will continue to play a role as a responsible Indo-Pacific stakeholder, the ministry said.
With enhanced self-defense capabilities, deepened strategic partnership with the U.S. and expanded cooperation with other like-minded partners, the country will strive to counter authoritarian expansion and safeguard peace and stability in the region, the MOFA added. (SFC-E)
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