New Zealand and Australia’s Prime Ministers recently released a joint statement stressing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China expressed gratitude for this and emphasized that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a global consensus.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China issued a press release stating that New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited Australia on August 15th to 16th for bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Following the meeting, they reiterated the significance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in a joint statement. They expressed concern over the escalating cross-strait situation and called for dialogue as a peaceful means to resolve issues, opposing the use of force or coercion to unilaterally change the status quo.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that this reaffirmation of the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait comes after a joint statement by the Australian and New Zealand foreign and defense ministers in February. The Ministry expressed high affirmation and sincere gratitude for this commitment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan pointed out that the joint statement also strongly addressed the dangers and destabilizing provocations taking place in the South China Sea region, urging all parties to adhere to international law principles such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to ease current tensions and peacefully resolve maritime disputes.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that maintaining peace and stability in both the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea is a global consensus. The Ministry welcomes likeminded countries to continue raising concerns about the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea on the international stage to ensure a rule-based international order through concrete actions. Taiwan will also persist in promoting “value diplomacy” to safeguard democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
It is evident that the joint commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait by New Zealand and Australia, along with their concern for the broader regional security in the South China Sea, reflects an international recognition of the importance of maintaining peaceful relations and adherence to international laws and norms in the Asia-Pacific region. This collaborative effort serves as a significant step towards upholding regional stability and security amidst growing geopolitical challenges.