MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA greatly welcomes G7 leaders’ statement opposing any unilateral attempts to change cross-strait status quo

Date：2026-06-17
Data Source：Department of European Affairs

June 17, 2026  No. 272  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung warmly welcomes the Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ statement on geopolitical issues, which was released following the G7 summit in Evian, France, from June 15 to 17. The statement emphasized the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law. It also reiterated the G7’s staunch opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and across the Taiwan Strait—particularly through force or coercion—and advocated the peaceful resolution of differences through dialogue. Minister Lin sincerely thanks G7 members for continuing to demonstrate through concrete action the high level of importance they attach to cross-strait peace and stability.

The fact that the statement reaffirmed the G7’s support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait underscores that maintaining the status quo has become an international consensus. As a responsible democratic country in the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan will continue to work with G7 members and like-minded partners worldwide to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and contribute to regional peace, stability, and prosperity. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to US Secretary of State Rubio’s interview on Trump-Xi summit

May 15, 2026  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) continues to pay close attention to interactions between the United States and China.
 
In an interview in Beijing on May 14 concerning the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized once again that the United States’ long-standing policy on Taiwan had remained unchanged across multiple presidential terms and administrations. He stressed that President Trump’s administration had continued to make arms sales to Taiwan since taking power and that arms sales had not featured prominently in discussions during the meeting. Mr. Rubio further reiterated that the United States opposed any change to the status quo by compulsion or force and emphasized that any disruption of regional stability would be detrimental to the United States, China, and the entire world.
 
MOFA also notes that Mr. Rubio pointed out that China’s objective in significantly expanding its military strength was not only to target Taiwan but to project power globally. To this day, People’s Liberation Army aircraft and vessels continue to operate around the Taiwan Strait and engage in various gray-zone harassment and military threats, showing the major risk that Beijing currently poses to regional peace and stability.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung thanks the United States for clarifying on numerous occasions that it supports and values Taiwan Strait peace and stability, and for reiterating once again that its policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and staunchly cooperate with the United States and all other freedom-loving democracies to jointly defend peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

April 24, 2026  
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely thanks the US administration and Congress for their statements expressing concern over recent interference in President Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to Eswatini and urging China to stop suppressing Taiwan. These timely statements conveyed clear support of Taiwan and condemned China for pressuring African countries to disrupt overseas visits of high-level Taiwan officials.
 
A spokesperson of the US Department of State responded promptly to the situation, stating that related African countries had acted at the behest of China by interfering in the safety and dignity of routine travel by Taiwan officials. The spokesperson stressed that these countries’ responsibility in managing international airspace within their respective flight information regions that extended beyond their sovereign airspace was solely to ensure aviation safety and should not serve as a political tool for Beijing. 
 
The State Department pointed out that this was yet another case of Beijing waging its intimidation campaign against Taiwan and its supporters around the world, abusing the international civil aviation system, and threatening international peace and prosperity. It urged Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue. Raymond Greene, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, echoed the State Department’s position.
 
Furthermore, leaders of key committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives from across the political aisle actively spoke up for Taiwan. For instance, Jim Risch (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that the United States should not allow China to normalize such behavior. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, emphasized that supporting Taiwan’s democracy required firm opposition to Beijing’s coercion and bullying. Brian Mast (R-FL), Chairperson of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned China’s bullying of Taiwan, a close US partner, and said that the United States would stand with Taiwan to counter such blatant threats. 
 
Several other members of Congress also publicly expressed concern. Among them were chairpersons of three subcommittees of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Ted Cruz (R-TX) (Africa and Global Health Policy); Pete Ricketts (R-NE) (East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy); and John Curtis (R-UT) (Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues). 
 
Rick Scott (R-FL), Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Seapower of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Cochair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus; and John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairperson of the House Select Committee on China also made public comments concerning the issue.
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes these statements and thanks the United States and like-minded partners for standing up for Taiwan. He reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country and has the right to conduct normal diplomatic exchanges with diplomatic allies and other international partners.
 
Furthermore, MOFA strongly condemns China’s politically motivated interference in international civil aviation operations and in Taiwan’s legitimate diplomatic interactions with other countries. Taiwan will continue to maintain close coordination with the US administration, Congress, and like-minded partners so as to jointly safeguard international civil aviation safety and protect peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Development Bureau today invited market expressions of interest (EOI) for the Central Procurement Scheme for Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) modules.

The submission deadline is noon on August 6, and a briefing session will be held on July 14.

Following a consultancy study and market sounding, the Government plans to sign a three-year agreement with a single manufacturer. The manufacturer must be certified under the Building Technology Research Institute’s MiC Manufacturer Accreditation Scheme.

Under the current plan, the scheme will procure about 2,000 steel MiC modules over the next three years. These will mainly support public works projects, including government office buildings and schools.

Managed by the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD), the scheme aims to lower costs by consolidating demand from multiple works projects. Individual participating projects will set aside required funds within the Approved Project Estimate based on their module needs.

The bureau noted that pooling Hong Kong’s testing and certification advantages with the manufacturing and research strengths of other Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area cities will help establish MiC as a leading regional and global industry.

Feedback collected from the EOI exercise will help shape the details of the open tender. The ArchSD aims to launch the tender in the fourth quarter of this year.

Interested parties must submit their EOIs to the bureau’s drop-in box at the East Wing of the Central Government Offices in Tamar by the August 6 deadline.

Separately, the Government received eight submissions during its EOI invitation for the Central Procurement Scheme for Steel Reinforcement, which ran from April 14 to May 12.

The Government is analysing the views received and considering suggestions on logistics, procurement quantities and digital platforms, with the goal of launching the tender in the third quarter of this year.

Both trial schemes align with the Chief Executive’s Policy Address initiative to pilot the central procurement for commonly used construction materials to save costs. 

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to China’s claims concerning Japan-Philippines negotiations on maritime boundary

May 31, 2026
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly refutes assertions made on May 29 by the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning negotiations between Japan and the Philippines on maritime boundaries between the two countries. The spokesperson said that these negotiations would cover maritime territory of Taiwan and claimed that China enjoyed sovereign rights over such territory in accordance with its domestic laws. MOFA reiterates that China has no right to comment on the territory and appertaining waters of the Republic of China (Taiwan). 
 
In a joint statement issued after their May 28 summit, Japan and the Philippines announced that they had decided to launch formal negotiations to delimit the maritime boundary of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf between the two countries in accordance with international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 
 
MOFA commends Japan and the Philippines for working to resolve maritime differences through peaceful dialogue and based on respect for international law. This is in line with Taiwan’s consistent approach on such matters. Taiwan looks forward to cooperating with Japan and the Philippines to jointly make concrete contributions to regional peace and stability and the preservation of marine ecology.
 
MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) has consistently held to the principle of shelving disputes and seeking joint development with regard to settling maritime disputes. Taiwan is willing to work with Japan and the Philippines on the basis of respective bilateral fisheries agreements to advance discussions on sharing maritime resources, maintaining the maritime security of the Indo-Pacific region, and ensuring the sustainable development of marine ecosystems.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to transit of Canadian naval vessel through Taiwan Strait

May 30, 2026

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes the transit of HMCS Charlottetown, a Halifax-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy, through the Taiwan Strait from May 22 to 23 and commends Canada for taking concrete action to uphold freedom, peace, and openness in the Indo-Pacific region and demonstrate its firm stance that the Taiwan Strait is indeed international waters.
 
The passage of HMCS Charlottetown marked the first time a Canadian warship had transited the Taiwan Strait this year and the eighth time since Canada published its Indo-Pacific Strategy in November 2022.
 
The government of Taiwan will continue to strengthen its self-defense capabilities and deepen exchanges and cooperation with democratic partners to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order and maintain peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to joint statement by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi and Philippine President Marcos

May 29, 2026  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung commends and welcomes the joint statement issued following a summit meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in Tokyo on the evening of May 28.

The statement emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encouraged a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through dialogue. It marked the first time that the leaders of Japan and the Philippines used a joint statement to express their keen attention to Taiwan Strait issues, showing that safeguarding Taiwan Strait peace and stability is a matter of common consensus among the international community.

In addition to expressing serious concern over the situation in the East and South China Seas and strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, the joint statement announced that Japan and the Philippines, as maritime democracies, would elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and further deepen cooperation in such areas as security, maritime affairs, economic development, critical minerals, and supply chain resilience.

Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are crucial to security and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. As it pursues integrated diplomacy, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration with like-minded nations in all areas, working together to uphold the rules-based international order and jointly advance democracy, peace, and prosperous development throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today announced that Hong Kong has entered the seasonal influenza season, as local flu activity has surged past baseline levels.

Laboratory surveillance shows that influenza A (H3) is the predominant virus, accounting for 59% detected cases. This is followed by influenza A (H1) at 23% and influenza B at 18%.

Flu-like illness outbreaks in schools and institutions rose to 46 last week, nearly doubling the weekly average of 24 recorded over the previous four weeks.

Schools accounted for about 70% of these outbreaks, with primary schools making up around 70% of the school cases. Residential care homes for the elderly accounted for approximately 20% of the total outbreaks.

With flu activity expected to climb further, the CHP advises high-risk individuals to wear surgical masks in public places.

Separately, the CHP noted that community COVID-19 activity has risen steadily since May. Lineages descended from the JN.1 variant remain the dominant strains circulating locally.

Residents planning summer vacations abroad are urged to check the Department of Health’s Travel Health Service webpage before departure to review regional disease trends and take necessary health precautions.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA strongly refutes false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement by China and Laos

Date：2026-06-07
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

June 7, 2026  No. 252  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) refutes and condemns in the strongest terms the false claims regarding Taiwan made in a joint statement between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. In the statement, issued on June 6, Laos pledged to support China in its efforts to realize “national unification.” Such baseless sentiments aim at downgrading Taiwan’s sovereignty, encourage the use of force against Taiwan, and affect regional peace and stability. MOFA strongly condemns China’s repeated use of joint statements with nations deferring to its stance to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and distort the truth. Laos continues to ignore the facts despite repeated corrections and admonitions from Taiwan, demonstrating its persistent stance in collaborating with China to suppress Taiwan. MOFA again cautions the Laotian government that appeasement of authoritarianism will lead the people of Laos into a vicious cycle of being entrapped in China’s political and economic coercion.The Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent and sovereign country, and neither it nor the PRC is subordinate to the other. These are undeniable objective facts and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. MOFA once again calls on the world to pay heed to China’s long-standing attempts to rationalize its heavy-handed expansionist ambitions and undermine the sovereign decisions of other nations. Taiwan is willing to collaborate with all nations that support freedom, democracy, and human rights to oppose authoritarian expansionism, staunchly defend peace and security across the Taiwan Strait, and uphold a free and stable Indo-Pacific region. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA thanks AU ECOSOCC Presiding Officer Sissoko for defending sovereignty of African nations following postponement of President Lai’s visit to Eswatini

Date：2026-05-04
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

May 4, 2026  No.177  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely appreciates and affirms the social media posts made by Mr. Louis Cheick Sissoko, Presiding Officer of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (AU ECOSOCC), on May 3 following the postponement of President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Eswatini due to the cancellation of overflight permits by certain African nations. 

In his posts, Presiding Officer Sissoko expressed indignation over the recent external interference in the airspace management of the African nations Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. He called on all nations to maintain autonomy in their airspace management. 

Presiding Officer Sissoko’s posts clearly stressed that concessions could not be made regarding national sovereignty and that the sovereign right of nations to choose their partnerships should be respected. His statements reflected strong support for President Lai’s visit and accurately identified the problem of external interference and intimidation aimed at blocking the president’s flight. Moreover, they demonstrated African public opinion leaders’ firm opposition to external interference and commitment to upholding fairness and justice throughout the world.

MOFA notes that the AU ECOSOCC serves as a dialogue mechanism between the African Union and Africa’s civil society and that Presiding Officer Sissoko’s public statements explicitly revealed that Africa’s civil society has become increasingly aware of the threat to Africa from external hegemonic powers.

MOFA reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan), all African nations, and the African Union attach great importance to national sovereignty and autonomy and remain committed to international relations that are based on the principles of parity and reciprocity. 

Taiwan will not yield in the face of underhanded and politically motivated manipulation of aviation and trade in the international arena, as well as efforts to undermine international norms. Instead, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with friendly countries and partners in Africa so as to jointly uphold the principle of equitable engagement, resolutely resist all forms of diplomatic coercion, and safeguard the international order, which is founded on mutual respect and trust. (E)