US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya, and Republic of Korea Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met on February 15 on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, they emphasized that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait was an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community. They also encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, opposed any attempts to unilaterally force or coerce changes to the status quo, and backed Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. They also made clear that the three countries stood shoulder to shoulder against any effort to destabilize democratic institutions, economic independence, and global security.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely welcomed and appreciated this reiteration of support for cross-strait peace and stability and opposition to any unilateral change to the status quo by force or coercion during the first meeting between the US secretary of state and the Japanese and ROK foreign ministers since President Donald Trump took office. This joint declaration by like-minded partners echoes a similar statement issued following the US-Japan leaders’ summit not long ago. It underscores that there is international consensus and a shared interest in cross-strait peace and stability, which are vital to the well-being of all nations and integral to regional and global peace and prosperity.
MOFA welcomes the international community’s continued concern regarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and threats to the status quo caused by China’s gray-zone tactics and economic coercion. As a responsible member of the global community, Taiwan will continue to enhance its defense capabilities and economic resilience and work with the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and other like-minded partners to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific.
