TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan welcomed an Australia-New Zealand joint statement issued Saturday that reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
In the statement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon opposed “any unilateral action to change the status quo” and urged dialogue instead of “coercion or the use of force.”
The two leaders warned of increasing “destabilizing activities” in the South China Sea, including militarization and dangerous activities. They emphasized that all countries “must adhere to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law.”
They also highlighted unsafe actions in the East China Sea.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the statement marked the second time since August that the two prime ministers have jointly stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
“Australia and New Zealand are important partners for Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific region, sharing common values of democracy and freedom,” the ministry said. Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with like-minded countries to uphold regional stability, peace, and prosperity, it added.
In November, the New Zealand naval oiler Aotearoa sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Three months later, the Australian Anzac-class frigate Toowoomba passed through the strait.
