MOFA response to Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi raising importance of cross-strait peace and stability at ASEAN-Japan Summit

October 27, 2025

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attended the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit in Malaysia on October 26. During the event, she reiterated that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait were important issues that directly impacted regional security. Prime Minister Takaichi added that attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion must not be tolerated. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung appreciates and welcomes these statements.

Since the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit in 2023, Japan has publicly expressed concern over cross-strait issues at the meeting for three consecutive years. Japan has consistently stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at numerous major international events this year, including the Japan-US summit, the Japan-US Defense Ministerial Meeting, trilateral meetings between the US secretary of state and the foreign ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea, the Japan-EU Strategic Dialogue, the Japan-EU summit, the Japan-NATO summit, the Japan-Finland summit, the Japan-Guatemala summit, the Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations, and the G7 leaders' summit. These pronouncements have demonstrated the government of Japan's firm position on urging the international community to prioritize cross-strait peace. They have also highlighted that stability across the Taiwan Strait is integral to global security and prosperity, and that democratic partners must work together to maintain the status quo.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes continued expressions of concern over cross-strait issues by friends and allies at international meetings. As a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan is committed to further enhancing its self-defense capabilities. In the spirit of integrated diplomacy, it will cooperate with Japan and other like-minded countries to staunchly defend the freedom, openness, peace, and prosperity of Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.