Taiwan is committed to working with like-minded partners such as Australia in defense of democratic values to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said Nov. 30.
 
On the front line of China’s aggression and expansionism, Taiwan is determined to strengthen its self-defense capability while safeguarding its sovereignty and way of life, Wu said. To this end, the government wants to coordinate with key regional partners like Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. on intelligence sharing, he added.
 
Wu made the remarks from Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Taipei City during a video interview with Stan Grant, international affairs analyst for the Behind the Wall TV program produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
 
According to Wu, Taiwan-Australia ties have grown from strength to strength in recent years, as demonstrated by backing from Down Under for Taiwan’s international participation in groups such as the World Health Organization.
 
Further opportunities to deepen bilateral ties should be welcomed, Wu said, calling on Australia to establish a security dialogue mechanism and negotiate an economic cooperation agreement with Taiwan.
 
Such measures would help lessen the impact of Beijing’s decision to weaponize trade against Australia, while also forming a united front of democratic countries willing to stand together against pressure from China, Wu said. (SFC-E)
 
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