TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday (Aug. 20) for emphasizing the need for peace in the Taiwan Strait in a joint statement issued on Friday (Aug. 16).

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his New Zealand counterpart, Christopher Luxon, “underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait” and urged peaceful dialogue to resolve cross-strait issues, according to the statement. They noted the rising tensions in the strait and opposed any unilateral changes to the status quo.

MOFA pointed out that this is the second time this year that both countries have reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The first was following a joint meeting of their foreign and defense ministers in February. 

The two leaders also pointed out China’s “destabilizing and provocative” activities in the South China Sea. They reaffirmed that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is vital to regional peace and called on involved parties to resolve disputes peacefully under international law. 

“Maintaining peace and stability in both the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea has become a global consensus,” MOFA said. The ministry welcomed like-minded countries to continue raising concerns over these regions in international forums and to uphold the rules-based international order. It also pledged to continue promoting "value-based diplomacy" to safeguard democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Cross-strait tensions continue to rise as Taiwan sees more Chinese fishing vessel incursions into territorial waters. After a Chinese fishing boat capsized on Saturday (Aug. 17) near Kinmen Island, China’s coast guard dispatched two patrol ships and one rescue vessel to patrol the Taiwan Strait. 

According to Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration, the three vessels briefly crossed the median line before heading back toward China. They did not enter restricted waters, and their movements were monitored by the Taiwanese military.