《TAIPEI TIMES》 France, Australia vow Taiwan support

PEACE AND STABILITY: The two nations called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait issues through dialogue without the threat or use of force or coercion

By Lu Yi-hsuan and Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday thanked France and Australia for voicing their support for Taiwan, saying that peace across the Taiwan Strait is crucial to the stability and prosperity of international society.

France and Australia on Monday pledged to deepen ties with Taiwan and reiterated their support for its participation in international organizations at this year’s Foreign and Defense Ministerial Consultations in Paris.

The meeting between French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong （黃英賢） and Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles was the second held after a similar meeting in Australia in 2021.

In a 46-point joint statement, Taiwan and the situation in the Taiwan Strait were one of the issues highlighted.

The participants “underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues through dialogue without the threat or use of force or coercion,” the statement said.

They also “reaffirmed their shared opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo in the Strait,” it said.

The opposition to the use of coercive measures and “unilaterally changing” the “status quo” was a new element in this year’s statement.

The two nations also committed to working together to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in “the work of international organizations where statehood is not a prerequisite.”

This differed from the 2021 joint statement, in which the participants “expressed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, in accordance with the organizations’ statutes, to strengthen global cooperation on relevant issues.”

Also new in this year’s statement was that the participants “reiterated their will to continue deepening relations with Taiwan in the economic, scientific, trade, technological and cultural fields.”

In Taipei, the foreign ministry yesterday welcomed the statement, saying that France has consistently demonstrated its pro-Taiwan position, including in last year’s National Strategic Review, an updated Indo-Pacific strategy and the Japan-France Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting.

The statement showed firm support for Taiwan from the two nations and underlined that the Taiwan Strait is crucial for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the ministry said.

Taiwan would continue to deepen its relations with like-minded partners to fulfill shared goals and visions, it said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES