November 25, 2023
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Charles Michel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met at the 19th Canada-European Union summit in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, on November 23 and 24. In the joint statement issued after the meeting on November 24, they expressed serious concern about the situation across the Taiwan Strait, strongly opposed the unilateral use of force or coercion to change the cross-strait status quo, underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the joint statement, in which Canada and the European Union have once again expressed their steadfast support for security and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Following the Group of Seven leaders’ summit in May and the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in November, like-minded partners worldwide have continued to reiterate their support for Taiwan and underline concern about the situation across the Taiwan Strait, highlighting the fact that democratic countries have reached a unanimous consensus on safeguarding cross-strait security. The international order is currently being challenged by authoritarian ambitions. Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, will continue to cooperate with Canada, the European Union, and other like-minded partners to staunchly defend democracy and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait, in the region, and around the world.