US President Joe Biden and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. That came in a joint statement published on Tuesday shortly after Biden met with Ardern at the White House.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking the island by force. It has increased military activity outside of Taiwan as a show of force.
The statement says both the US and New Zealand “encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.” Both sides advocate for a “freer and more open Indo-Pacific,” that abides by the “rules-based order in the maritime domain.”
The statement also expressed concern over China’s human-rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.