TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The UK and France reiterated their support for peace in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday.

In a joint statement, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron called for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues and reaffirmed their commitment to peace in the Korean peninsula and the South and East China Seas.

The leaders said their two countries have a shared responsibility “to defend our values and interests” beyond Europe. European security is “inextricably linked to the Indo-Pacific,” they added.

“We will strengthen our coordination and work together for a free, open, and sovereign Indo-Pacific through new joint maritime security training, reciprocal base access, and joint support to regional organizations,” the statement said. The leaders also promised to form a Global Maritime Security Dialogue.

As values including democracy, the rule of law, and human rights are being undermined, the two countries must “stand up for these aims and values,” the statement read.

The joint statement comes as the UK leads an international Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific, with the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales as flagship. The strike group was deployed in June and includes ships from Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Spain.

France concluded its Mission Clemenceau 25 in April, which saw its CSG, led by the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier, deployed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans for five months. The group participated in four naval exercises during its voyage.