September 23, 2022
Regarding a joint statement by the G7 Foreign Ministers and EU High Representative during the UN General Assembly opposing unilateral changes to the status quo and reaffirming peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, MOFA responds as follows:
On September 22 (US Eastern Standard Time), the Foreign Ministers of the Group of Seven (G7)—namely, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a joint statement following a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. In the statement’s section on China, the G7 countries and the EU expressed opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues. This joint statement follows an earlier statement issued on August 3 that expressed support for Taiwan after China had escalated tensions in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) welcomes and appreciates the unanimous action again taken by the G7 countries and the EU during a UN event to resolutely support peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Since August this year, China has repeatedly conducted unprovoked military actions in and around the Taiwan Strait, eliciting global concern. Many like-minded countries have continued to show their high regard for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and their staunch support and firm commitment to preserving the status quo. Among other concrete actions, they have publicly voiced concern, issued statements, and dispatched naval vessels to conduct freedom of navigation operations. In the face of China’s provocative attempts to alter the status quo, the government of Taiwan will steadfastly enhance its self-defense capabilities and work with like-minded nations to deter China from changing the cross-strait status quo, safeguard security across the Taiwan Strait, and ensure a free, open, peaceful, and stable Indo-Pacific.