UK and Australia Reaffirm Importance of Taiwan Strait Peace in Joint Statement

Published: June 13, 2026

The photo shows the Taiwanese Navy conducting exercises in front of an LST-218-class tank landing ship during the Han Kuang military exercises held in Pingtung on July 28, 2022, simulating a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. (Image: Annabelle Chih/Getty Images)

The foreign and defense ministers of the United Kingdom and Australia held talks in London on the June 10 and issued a joint statement afterward, reaffirming that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of critical importance. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed strong appreciation and welcome for the two countries’ continued public support for Taiwan for three consecutive years.

On June 12, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Defence Secretary John Healey met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles in London for the “Australia–UK Ministerial Consultation.”

The ministry noted that in their joint statement, the UK and Australia reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is crucial, opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, and encouraged dialogue rather than coercion or the use of force. Both countries expressed concern over China’s destabilizing military exercises around Taiwan. They also emphasized that the international community benefits from the professional expertise of the Taiwanese people, and reiterated their support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, as well as their commitment to deepening ties with Taiwan in areas such as the economy, trade, technology, and culture.

The ministry added that the UK, Australia, and Taiwan are like-minded partners who share universal values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, and are important forces for stability in the Indo-Pacific region. As an indispensable member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to closely cooperate with like-minded countries to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, expand Taiwan’s international participation, and defend a rules-based international order, jointly promoting security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

In response to the UK and Australia’s joint public expression of support for Taiwan for three consecutive years, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed strong approval and welcome on the 12th.