By Caribbean News Global 
TAIWAN / USA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has acknowledged Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States joint announcement of plans to advance AUKUS – the security partnership linking the three countries – as well as a concrete pathway for AUKUS to provide step-by-step support for Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, following March 13, 2023, San Diego, USA announcement.
In a press release issued Tuesday, March 14, 2023, MOFA, “welcomed the steady advancement of AUKUS,” adding “It believes that this trilateral cooperation will strengthen democratic nations’ deterrence capability in the Indo-Pacific and contribute to the maintenance of regional peace and stability.”
In the AUKUS leaders’ announcement issued by the US state department, US president Joe Biden, British prime minister Sunak, and Australian prime minister Albanese announced the optimal pathway for Australia to acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) under the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) partnership.
US state department in a press release attributed to the secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, said:
“The benefits of the AUKUS partnership will also extend across the Indo-Pacific region, which is home to more than half of the world’s people and nearly two-thirds of the world’s economy. It reinforces our collective strength by weaving our transatlantic and Indo-Pacific allies and partners closer together in support of the international system that underpins these objectives. The AUKUS partnership represents a modernization of the longstanding alliances and partnerships between our countries, guided by a shared commitment to global prosperity, security, and stability. It deepens our longstanding diplomatic, security, and defense cooperation to meet the complex challenges of the future,” he continued.
“Australia’s modernization of its submarine fleet will be a multi-decade undertaking binding our countries closer together as we actualize this opportunity side-by-side. Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will be done in a manner that sets the highest nonproliferation standard and strengthens the nuclear nonproliferation regime. This partnership is possible because of Australia’s longstanding and demonstrated commitment to nuclear nonproliferation.”
On the matter of ‘standing with our partners’, the US state department noted:
“Much of the history of the 21st century will be written in the Indo-Pacific, and we are proud to stand with our partners across the region to enhance economic prosperity, freedom, and the rule of law, and to preserve the rights of each country to make sovereign decisions free from coercion. AUKUS will help advance our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region for generations to come.”
MOFA has likewise reiterated that Taiwan is an important member of the Indo-Pacific, located in a pivotal position of the first island chain and on the front line of defense against authoritarian expansionism.
“Taiwan has consistently and staunchly supported the status quo of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, having shared common interests with the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other like-minded countries for many years. Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded partners in the region and beyond to preserve the rules-based international order and safeguard regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” said MOFA.
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