Taiwan welcomes G7 stance on cross-strait stability, continues self-defence push
Taiwan has welcomed a G7 foreign ministers' statement emphasising peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The Presidential Office said the island will continue bolstering self-defence capabilities and working with like-minded partners to uphold democratic values.
Taiwan will continue bolstering its self-defence capabilities and resilience following a joint statement by G7 foreign ministers emphasising the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the Presidential Office said yesterday.
Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region are vital to global security and prosperity. Taiwan will continue to bolster its self-defence capabilities and whole-of-society resilience while working with like-minded international partners — including G7 members — to uphold freedom, democracy and human rights while fulfilling its international responsibilities, Kuo said.
Taiwan also thanked G7 members for continuing to monitor cross-strait developments and supporting the nation's meaningful participation in international organisations, she added. Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee said the government welcomed the G7 statement, adding that Taiwan would continue working with like-minded international partners to uphold democratic values and human rights.
The joint statement was issued after G7 foreign ministers and the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy met in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday. The ministers expressed concern over China's increasingly assertive activities in waters east of Taiwan, saying they threatened regional stability, freedom of navigation and the safety of international shipping. They reaffirmed their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, particularly through the use or threat of force, and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through constructive dialogue.
China has since June stepped up activity off Taiwan's east coast, sending regular coast guard patrols. Officials in Taiwan said they believe China is practising for a potential maritime blockade using overlapping military, paramilitary and civilian assets. France, Germany, the UK and the US have previously expressed worries about China's actions off Taiwan's east coast, but the G7 statement is the strongest unified expression of concern about Beijing's activities to date. Taipei regards the area off its east coast as critical to wartime supply routes from allies in the event of a blockade or conflict.
Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Taiwan had suspended bilateral investment negotiations with Malaysia, following comments by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim earlier this year that Taiwan is a part of China. The ministry also said it would close its representative office in Papua New Guinea and stop buying liquefied natural gas from the country, citing Chinese pressure.
