TAIPEI (Reuters) – A senior Australian lawmaker addressed the sensitive topic of security cooperation with Taiwan during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday, saying both sides had a vested interest in maintaining regional stability.
Australia, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with China-claimed Taiwan, but has watched with growing concern, as have other key US allies, as Beijing uses military pressure to assert its claims of sovereignty over the democratically governed island.
Meeting Tsai at the presidential office in Taipei, Andrew Wallace, deputy chair of Australia’s Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security, said that in an ever-changing geopolitical landscape, security cooperation was “critical”.
“Taiwan and Australia both recognize the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Our partnership, our strategic partnership, contributes significantly to regional security,” he said.
Taiwan and Australia have a vested interest in a rules-based, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and oppose any threat to regional stability, Wallace added.
“In defense cooperation, our defense forces engage in joint exercises, intelligence sharing and capacity-building programs. In fact, Australia, along with the United States, Japan and the Philippines, are conducting naval exercises as we speak in the South China Sea.”
Taiwan and Australia are collaborating on cybersecurity initiatives safeguarding critical infrastructure and important digital networks, he said, without providing details.
Last week, diplomat no. 2 of the US State Department suggested that the AUKUS submarine project between Australia, Britain and the United States could help deter any Chinese move against Taiwan.
The plan, unveiled by the three countries in 2023, would see Australia acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines as part of allies’ efforts to push back against China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region.
Tsai told Wallace and other visiting Australian lawmakers that Taiwan and Australia are staunch defenders of freedom and democracy
“In the face of authoritarian expansionism, democracies today must remain united and strengthen cooperation,” he said.
Taiwan’s government rejects China’s claims of sovereignty, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.