Recent remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirming support for cross-strait peace and stability are sincerely appreciated by the government and people of Taiwan, the Presidential Office said April 12.
The leaders made the remarks in a joint vision statement issued after a trilateral summit April 11 in Washington, D.C. Reaffirming the critical importance of Taiwan Strait peace and stability to global security and prosperity, the statement reiterated that the three nations’ basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged and called for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.
According to PO Spokesperson Olivia Lin, Taiwan is pleased to see such a firm stance taken by the three countries. Authoritarian expansion poses serious challenges to regional security and international order, Lin said, adding that the statement, along with a similar one released following the U.S.-Japan summit earlier this month, underscores the strong global consensus on preserving cross-strait peace and stability.
As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and work with like-minded partners to uphold the rules-based international order, Lin said. The country is committed to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific, she added.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement released after the PO response. China’s military intimidation and gray-zone coercion in the region have elicited significant international concern, the MOFA said, adding that Taiwan will keep collaborating with partners such as Japan, the Philippines, the U.K. and the U.S. to advance peace, stability and prosperity. (YCH-E)
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