TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated their support for peace in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region during a South Korea-EU summit on Monday (May 22).
The leaders underscored the importance of upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific, per a joint statement.
They also stressed “a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific” based on the rule of law and basic freedoms. Freedom of navigation in the region was also mentioned.
The leaders pledged to cooperate on common objectives, including security, health, climate, environment, and sustainable finance.
This statement comes nearly one month after South Korea made similar commitments with the U.S. in a separate joint statement.
South Korea has been increasingly vocal regarding regional peace, particularly in the Taiwan Strait. "The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan but, like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue," Yoon said in a Reuters interview in April.
In response to heightened regional tensions stemming from China, South Korea has expanded partnerships with other nations in the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines. In February, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong met with Philippines Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro, and the two agreed to deepen strategic cooperation.