Atlanta Talks Put Taiwan Strait on the Agenda
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta on Friday. According to the US State Department statement, they emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Rubio also raised concerns over China’s efforts to assert control over the South China Sea, Taiwan News reported.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry thanked the three ministers on Saturday, saying repeated statements show Strait security is a matter of international concern. Beijing’s position was carried by the state-run Global Times, which quoted Xiamen University’s Zheng Jian as saying Washington is linking regional flashpoints to draw allies into the Taiwan question.
Separately, Quad foreign ministers from the US, Australia, India and Japan voiced “grave concerns” about economic coercion but stopped short of naming China, Reuters reported. Rubio said the Quad is not “an anti-China or anti-anybody coalition.” A Quad leaders meeting in Manila is being planned for next month.
The statements are diplomatic rather than military, and no change on the water was reported.