TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The UK and Australia emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait in a joint statement released Friday.

UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy, Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through dialogue without the use of force during the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations in Sydney. They also opposed any unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

The ministers criticized China’s “destabilizing military exercises” near Taiwan and emphasized the global community’s benefit from Taiwan’s contributions. They reiterated their support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the international community and expressed interest in closer cooperation in areas such as trade, science, technology, culture, and the economy.

The joint statement also condemned Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, particularly “sideswiping, water cannoning, and close maneuvers” by Chinese military and coast guard vessels. These actions have “resulted in injuries, endangered lives, and created risks of miscalculation and escalation,” the ministers said.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the joint statement, saying it reflected growing international consensus on Taiwan’s role. The ministry described Taiwan as an “indispensable member” of the global community and pledged to continue working with like-minded democratic partners to uphold a rules-based international order and safeguard democracy and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.