G7 Highlights Peace and Stability Across Taiwan Strait, Supports Taiwan's International Participation

The Group of Seven (G7) nations issued a joint statement highlighting the critical importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for the security and prosperity of the entire international community. The statement expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, including the World Health Assembly and technical meetings of the World Health Organization (WHO).

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the G7 is united on the need for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the Korean Peninsula, and in opposing China's unfair and non-market practices. The G7 reiterated their support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in global health forums while noting that there was no change in the basic position of the G7 members on Taiwan, including their stated one-China policies.

Why this matters: The G7 statement comes amid concerns over the threat of a potential pandemic and efforts to strengthen global health governance. It calls for including Taiwan as a signatory to central documents like revisions to the International Health Regulations 2005 and a new pandemic agreement, enabling collaboration on monitoring new virus strains, reporting pathogen data, and sharing vaccine research.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to the G7 nations for reasserting the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. "Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the G7 and other like-minded countries to jointly safeguard freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region, defend the rules-based international order, and strengthen global democracy," the ministry stated.

The G7 statement also addressed broader regional concerns, expressing apprehension over human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as the erosion of pluralism in Hong Kong. It urged China to cease activities that threaten democratic institutions and community security across these regions. Additionally, the G7 expressed concern about the activities of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and other emerging Russia-backed forces in North Africa, Central Africa, and the Sahel, calling for accountability for human rights abuses.

The G7 foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and discussed partnerships with African countries and regional organizations to support just green transitions to net zero emissions.

Key Takeaways

• G7 nations issued joint statement on importance of peace in Taiwan Strait.
• G7 supports Taiwan's meaningful participation in global health forums like WHO.
• G7 expressed concerns over human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.
• G7 called for accountability for human rights abuses by Russia-backed forces.
• G7 reaffirmed commitment to 2030 Agenda and just green transitions to net zero.