U.K., France reaffirm commitment to Indo-Pacific, Taiwan stability

Taipei, July 11 (CNA) The United Kingdom and France on Thursday underscored the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, to European security, as well as their commitment to the region's stability, during a leaders' summit held in London.

The summit between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron focused on strengthening migration control, enhancing defense and security cooperation, and tackling global challenges.

According to a joint declaration issued after the summit, the two leaders reaffirmed a "commitment to peace and stability in the Korean peninsula, in the South and East China Seas, and in the Taiwan Strait."

The declaration also called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Taiwan Strait issues.

Europe's security is "inextricably linked" to the Indo-Pacific, the declaration said, adding that their countries would work together "for a free, open, and sovereign Indo-Pacific" through new joint maritime security training and reciprocal base access, among other measures.

The statement marks the second time in recent weeks that both countries have voiced their concerns about cross-strait tensions, following similar language in the G7 Leaders' Communiqué in June, according to Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

In a brief statement issued Friday in Taipei, MOFA said it welcomed the U.K.-France statement and that Taiwan would continue working with democratic partners to contribute to the Indo-Pacific's security and uphold the rules-based international order.