Taiwan’s government has welcomed a joint statement by G7 leaders stressing the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Sunday’s communique marks the end of the three-day annual summit of major global democracies, held this year in the United Kingdom.
The statement by leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union “reiterate[s] the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo Pacific”. The G7 “underscore[s] the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”, while encouraging “the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues”. The countries say they are “seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions”.
Taiwan’s Presidential Office says this is the first time the G7 leaders’ communique has emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. It also says it is the first time in the forum’s 36-year history that a statement has included content friendly to Taiwan. The office says Taiwan’s role in regional stability is not limited to cross-Strait relations with China, but extends to the entire Indo-Pacific region.
The Presidential Office says Sunday’s communique comes after a string of joint statements backing regional stability by countries including the US, Japan, South Korea and Australia. It says Taiwan’s government once again thanks the G7 nations for their firm support and says Taiwan will continue to be a positive force for global health and regional prosperity.