Premier Lai reiterates Taiwan’s commitment to safeguarding regional stability

2018/03/06

Taiwan is committed to working with like-minded nations in Northeast and Southeast Asia to safeguard regional peace and stability, according to Premier Lai Ching-te March 3.
 
 Security situations including nuclear weapons tests by North Korea as well as the unilateral launch of air routes in the Taiwan Strait and increased military activity by mainland China require the close attention of the international community, Lai said. To ensure a peaceful and stable regional environment, Taiwan will continue to fully support U.N. sanctions on North Korea and pursue cross-strait dialogue, he added.
 
 Lai made the remarks at the opening of the first East Asia Peace Forum in Taipei City. The event was co-organized by Taipei-based Democratic Pacific Union, a nongovernmental organization headed by former Vice President Annette Lu, South Korea-headquartered think tank 21st Century Economic and Social Research Institute and Switzerland-based nonprofit Swiss Democracy Foundation.
 
 The two-day forum brought together around 30 academics and lawmakers from countries including Japan, the Philippines and South Korea for seminars and keynote speeches on such issues as cross-strait relations, geopolitics in East Asia and maritime disputes and management.
 
 According to Lai, the event provides an important economic and security exchange platform and demonstrates Taiwan’s efforts to bolster cooperation in fostering stability.
 
 As evidence of Taiwan’s commitment to regional peace, the government plans to increase national defense spending, Lai said. Taiwan is also working to deepen economic, cultural and social connections through initiatives such as the New Southbound Policy, he added.
 
 A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the policy seeks to enhance agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. This landmark initiative highlights Taiwan’s efforts to promote a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Lai said.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=130349)