TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A "2+2" meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday (Nov. 7) brought together defense and foreign affairs ministers from the U.K. and Japan for a constructive discussion on maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and ensuring the security and prosperity of the international community.
A joint statement issued shortly after the meeting showed both parties expressing "strong opposition" to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo across the Strait by force or coercion. They urged peaceful solutions to the long-standing dispute between Taiwan and China. Additionally, concerns were raised about increasing tensions in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
The ministers appealed to China to act as a responsible member of the international community and to cease supporting Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine. The political turmoil in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong remains a critical concern for both the U.K. and Japan. They expressed a willingness to establish stable and constructive relations with these regions through dialogue.
The joint statement also supported Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, reaffirming that Taiwan should be allowed to gain official membership in global bodies where statehood is not a prerequisite. It also called on the global community to consider Taiwan's observer status in events where statehood is required.
The call for international support highlights the firm stance of both the U.K. and Japan as the situation between Taiwan and China continues to deteriorate.
