MOFA response to EU High Representative Borrell calling for cross-strait peace and stability at ASEAN Regional Forum

July 28, 2024

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) notes that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell emphasized in his July 27 address to the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum that the European Union had a direct interest in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He stressed that the European Union opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion. MOFA welcomes and appreciates his reaffirmation of the EU stance on safeguarding cross-strait peace and stability.

In his speech, High Representative Borrell also expressed concern over tensions in the South China Sea, underscored that the Indo-Pacific region was the center of global competition, and noted that conflict in the South China Sea could have far greater ramifications than the Red Sea crisis. He urged all parties to reduce tensions in the South China Sea in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and expressed opposition to the use of force to resolve conflicts. High Representative Borrell's position is commensurate with Taiwan's commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.

Taiwan opposes any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force and condemns the escalation of gray-zone tactics and military coercion in the South China Sea. This is not only detrimental to regional peace and stability, it also undermines the global maritime order that is founded in international law and UNCLOS. Taiwan will continue to cooperate with regional allies and like-minded countries to jointly protect a free and open Indo-Pacific.