Taiwan on Saturday welcomed a joint statement issued by Japan and the United States affirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said the Taiwan government will continue to work closely with Japan, the United States and other like-minded countries to safeguard democracy, universal values and a rules-based international order to ensure peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Ou said because of its strategic position in the "first island chain," Taiwan plays a key role in regional stability and prosperity.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and U.S. President Joe Biden met in Washington on Friday and said in their joint statement that they "underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," marking the first time that Taiwan has been mentioned in a U.S.-Japan leaders' statement since 1969.