The Foreign Ministry (MOFA) said the Japan-Philippines joint statement, published Thursday, May 28, demonstrates that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a common interest of the international community. The statement was issued following a three-day summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. this week. The Taiwan Strait was one of many issues addressed in the statement, with both leaders supporting a dialogue-based approach to solving cross-Strait issues.

MOFA said Taiwan will continue to pursue its comprehensive diplomacy and work with like-minded countries to uphold the rules-based international order and support democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The ministry also pointed out the statement’s deep concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas, and both countries’ strong opposition to forceful unilateral attempts to change the status quo by coercion. According to the statement, Japan and the Philippines are upgrading their relationship, as maritime democracies, to that of Comprehensive Strategic Partners. As such, the two will pursue cooperation in areas including security, maritime affairs, economic development, critical minerals, and supply chain resilience.