Leaders of US allies across the Asia-Pacific region expressed outrage over the attack on former US president Donald Trump early on Sunday, offering their condolences and calling for a united front against political violence.
“We must stand firm against any form of violence that challenges democracy,” Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a post on X. Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated two years ago.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as “concerning and confronting”.
“There is no place for violence in the democratic process,” Albanese wrote on X.
Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te wished Trump a “swift recovery” and offered “sincere condolences” to the victims of the attack.
“Political violence of any form is never acceptable in our democracies,” Lai said in a post on X.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr expressed “great relief” to hear that Trump was “fine and well”, adding: “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
“Together with all democracy loving peoples around the world, we condemn all forms of political violence,” Marcos wrote on X.
The remarks from Asia-Pacific leaders follow those from counterparts in the likes of the UK and Israel on Saturday.