US, South Korea, Japan Diplomats Express Concern Over Taiwan and South China Sea Stability

Trilateral Meeting Addresses Regional Tensions

Top diplomats from the United States, South Korea, and Japan held a trilateral meeting on Monday, September 22, 2025, in New York City, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The discussions focused on critical security issues in the Indo-Pacific region, culminating in a joint statement that highlighted shared concerns over stability in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. , , , , , , , ,

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun participated in the high-level talks. , , , , , ,

Concerns Over Taiwan and South China Sea

The joint statement, issued by the U.S. State Department, emphasized the 'importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait' and voiced 'concern about increasingly frequent destabilizing actions around Taiwan'. , , The three nations also 'strongly opposed unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea, as well as attempts to enforce such claims'. , , , , , , , They further rejected 'any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo' in the Taiwan Strait and expressed support for 'Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations'. , , , , ,

While the statement did not explicitly name China, it was widely understood to be implicitly aimed at Beijing's growing assertiveness in the region. , , , , The diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' and to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly regarding freedoms of navigation and overflight. ,

Reactions and Broader Cooperation

In response to the joint statement, China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, 'strongly deplored and opposed' the remarks, describing them as 'irresponsible' and an interference in China's internal affairs. , , Conversely, Taiwan's foreign ministry welcomed the expression of concern, stating that Taipei would continue to cooperate with like-minded partners to ensure peace and stability in the region. , ,

Beyond these immediate concerns, the trilateral meeting also saw the United States reaffirm its 'ironclad commitments to the defense of Japan and the ROK', pledging extended deterrence supported by 'America's unmatched military strength, including its nuclear capabilities'. , , , The ministers also discussed their continued commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and explored cooperation in areas such as trilateral coast guard exchanges and Arctic issues. , , , , , ,