Japanese and European Union leaders released a joint statement Thursday that included a reference to "stability across the Taiwan Strait," marking the first time the Taiwan issue has been included in a top-level Japan-EU statement.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga participated in an online summit with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the day and a statement was released in which the leaders said, "We underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and encourage the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues," and called for "enhanced cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific."
The inclusion was proposed by Japan, and the EU obtained the consent of all member countries, according to sources. The joint statement issued at a Japan-U.S. summit meeting in April also included such issues, in response to China's growing military pressure on Taiwan.
"We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and increase tensions," the leaders said in the Japan-EU statement.
Regarding the Tokyo Games, the statement said, "We support the holding of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 in a safe and secure manner this summer as a symbol of global unity in defeating COVID-19."
On the issue of climate change, the statement included a plan to establish the Japan-EU Green Alliance to deepen cooperation on such matters as energy transition and sustainable finance, and facilitating transition in third countries.
It was the first time the three leaders had participated in the annual Japan-EU summit meeting, which lasted about one hour.
After the meeting, Michel told reporters: "The EU decided to reinforce its strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific region. We have a strong interest to intensify, with Japan, our cooperation in maritime security, technology cooperation, cybersecurity, disinformation, and to promote fundamental values and principles in the region."
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