October 14, 2024
Commenting on China’s joint military drills around Taiwan during an interview with the press on October 14, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pointed out that peace and security in and around the Taiwan Strait were an extremely important issue to the region. He stated that Japan would carefully monitor the situation and prepare to respond to any development.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) affirms and appreciates Prime Minister Ishiba’s public expression of great concern and support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait immediately after China launched military drills around Taiwan.
Also on October 14, Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya and Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani stressed the importance of cross-strait peace to regional security and stability and stated that they would closely monitor the situation and remain vigilant concerning related developments.
Maintaining cross-strait peace and stability is a matter of international consensus. China’s repeated use of pretexts to suppress and intimidate Taiwan has undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific. MOFA again urges China to exercise reason and restraint and to stop threatening Taiwan and unilaterally escalating regional tensions. For its part, Taiwan will continue to enhance its self-defense capabilities and work with the United States, Japan, and other like-minded partners to safeguard the rules-based international order.