Taiwan Thanks the UK and Australia for Backing Strait Stability

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Taiwan has welcomed the strong show of support from Australia and the United Kingdom for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The endorsement came during the recent Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN), held in Sydney, where both nations reaffirmed their opposition to any unilateral attempts to alter the current status quo in the region.

The high-level summit was co-hosted by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. Representing the UK were Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs David Lammy and Secretary of State for Defence John Healey.

In their joint statement, the ministers emphasised the “critical importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” They urged for cross-Strait issues to be resolved peacefully through dialogue, explicitly rejecting the use of force or coercive tactics. The statement also expressed deep concern over Beijing’s increasingly aggressive military activities around Taiwan.

The four ministers jointly acknowledged Taiwan’s contribution to the international community and pledged support for its participation in global organisations where full statehood is not a requirement. They also committed to strengthening bilateral ties with Taiwan in key areas, including trade, science, technology, and culture.

MOFA responded by expressing sincere appreciation for the unified position. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung praised both nations as reliable partners that share Taiwan’s commitment to democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. According to MOFA, the AUKMIN statement further highlights a growing global consensus in favour of maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific and upholding a rules-based international order.

“The support from Australia and the United Kingdom reflects the shared values of democratic nations who understand the dangers posed by coercive authoritarianism,” Lin said in a formal statement.

In a related development, Taiwan also hosted a delegation from the Patriots for Europe Group in the European Parliament. The delegation, led by chief whip Anders Vistisen, included vice chair Antonio Tanger Correa, member Georg Mayer, and policy advisers.

The European visitors met with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu and held discussions with various government officials, think tanks, and civil society leaders. Topics ranged from Taiwan-EU trade and innovation to the island’s strategic position in the face of mounting threats from China.

During the visit, the delegation travelled to Kinmen, a frontline island historically at the centre of cross-Strait tensions. The visit aimed to better understand Taiwan’s security environment and its multicultural democratic society.

Speaking at a public forum, Deputy Minister Wu stressed that Taiwan, like other democracies, faces persistent “grey zone” pressure from Beijing, ranging from economic coercion to military intimidation. He noted that Taiwan’s private sector has steadily reduced investments in China in response to this pressure.

In comments shared with reporters, Correa warned of Beijing’s growing efforts to infiltrate European infrastructure and influence policy through financial leverage. “Drawing from Portugal’s experience, we recognise the critical importance of Taiwan’s democratic model and support its people’s right to determine their future,” he said.

MOFA concluded by thanking the delegation and reaffirmed Taiwan’s intention to expand its partnerships with democratic nations in Europe and beyond, aiming to build a resilient, rules-based alliance amid an increasingly volatile regional landscape.