MOFA response to Japan and Australia defense ministers’ joint statement reaffirming importance of peace and stability across Taiwan Strait

December 8, 2025

Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles in Tokyo on December 7. Following the meeting, they issued a joint statement reaffirming that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait were essential to regional and international security and prosperity and reiterating strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. They also emphasized that cross-strait issues should be resolved peacefully through dialogue. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes and appreciates these remarks.

China's continued military expansionism and provocative behavior in the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the Pacific region-including Chinese military aircraft recently locking their radars on Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft-clearly pose significant threats to Indo-Pacific and global security, raising serious concerns.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to closely monitor regional developments and calls on China to fulfill its responsibilities as a major power and cease all reckless actions that heighten tensions and jeopardize regional security and stability.

Taiwan, a responsible member of the international community, will steadily bolster its self-defense capabilities and whole-of-society defense resilience. It will also cooperate closely with democratic friends and allies to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.