TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US and Japan made a notable change in wording to their policy on the status quo in the Taiwan Strait on Friday.
Following Japan Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru's first meeting with Trump, they issued a joint statement reiterating their opposition to China's attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait “by force or coercion.”
They stressed their strong opposition to China's “unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea.”
The statement emphasized "maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community." Nikkei Asia journalist Ken Moriyasu commented on X the statement “quietly introduced new language on the Taiwan Strait.”
The statement said the two leaders were against a change in the status quo. Moriyasu said this marked the first time the US and Japan have included the word “coercion" when referring to Chinese interference.
In the report, Moriyasu cited Sheila A. Smith, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, as saying use of the term was significant. "It could include economic measures, such as embargoes and cyberattacks, that fall short of military action.”
Trump said Friday the US was committed to the security of Japan. "We will extend the full strength of American deterrence capabilities and defense of our friend and ally, 100%,” Trump said per AP.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the statement by welcoming the international community's continued attention to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. It pledged to implement the Four Pillars of Peace action plan, strengthen self-defense capabilities, and work with like-minded partners such as the US and Japan.
