uk parliament visit taiwan

UK Parliament addresses Taiwan as independent country as their Foreign Secretary visits Beijing

The UK Parliament on Wednesday referred to Taiwan as an independent country. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is currently on an official visit to China, the first by a UK official in five years.

Since the British government does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country, it has no diplomatic relations with the island. However, the United Kingdom maintains economic and trade ties with Taiwan and they have a de facto British embassy in the capital city, Taipei.

Britain’s top diplomat, James Cleverly, began the long-awaited visit to China on Wednesday as the two countries attempt to stabilize their ties that have frayed badly in recent years.

The trip is the first by a UK foreign secretary to China in more than five years, underscoring the downturn in relations over Beijing’s curbing of civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony, abuses against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang region, China’s support for Russia, and Britain’s close security ties with the United States.

“We are clear-eyed about the areas where we have fundamental disagreements with China and we raise those issues when we meet. But I think it's important to also recognise that we have to have a pragmatic, sensible working relationship with China because of the issues that affect us all around the globe," James Cleverly told broadcasters.

According to media reports, some conservatives hold the belief that the Foreign Secretary's visit to China won't do any good. Besides, some lawmakers including former Prime Minister Liz Truss are of the opinion that China should be seen as a national security concern.

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UK parliamentary committee visits Taiwan

LONDON -A British parliamentary committee is visiting Taiwan this week to meet President Tsai Ing-Wen and other senior officials, the Foreign Affairs Committee said in a statement on Tuesday.

The visit is part of the committee's work examining a shift in British foreign policy towards the Indo Pacific region, which the government has identified as an economic and diplomatic priority since leaving the European Union.

"This visit to Taiwan has long been a priority for the Foreign Affairs Committee," said chair of the committee, Alicia Kearns.

"The multiple challenges to security and prosperity across the globe make constructive ties between democracies, such as those enjoyed by the UK and Taiwan, all the more important."

The committee is a parliamentary body, separate from government and made up of elected lawmakers from a range of parties. It scrutinises government policy but does not have statutory powers.

The committee will hold a press conference on Dec. 2.

Earlier this year a visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims.

Britain and China are engaged in a number of simultaneous diplomatic spats, including over Taiwan.

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China accuses UK of ‘gross interference’ over Taiwan visit

China calls British politicians’ trip to deepen ties with self-ruled Taiwan a ‘flagrant violation’ of its one-China policy.

China has accused a committee of British legislators visiting Taiwan of “gross interference” in its internal affairs and warned that it could be “met with forceful responses”.

The ongoing visit to Taiwan by members of the British parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee is a “flagrant violation” of the “ one-China principle “, the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom said in a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday.

China claims Taiwan, a democratic self-ruled island, as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve its goals. Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

“The Chinese side urges the UK side to abide by its commitment, stop any actions that violate the one-China principle, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs,” the embassy’s spokesperson said in the statement.

“Moves of the UK side that undermine China’s interests will be met with forceful responses from the Chinese side.”

The visit sent the “wrong signal” to those who want Taiwan to be independent, the statement said.

Embassy spokesperson on the visit to Taiwan by a delegation of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament https://t.co/ZasIiKSDDY pic.twitter.com/Oo2daJD2A6 — Chinese Embassy in UK (@ChineseEmbinUK) December 1, 2022

The visit is part of the committee’s work in studying a British shift in foreign policy towards the Indo-Pacific region, which London has considered an economic and diplomatic priority since leaving the European Union.

“The Indo-Pacific, and the strength of our relationships in the region, is of huge importance to the UK. Within the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan’s voice is unique and invaluable,” committee chair Alicia Kearns said in a statement ahead of the five day visit.

Minister Wu held a banquet for the #UK 🇬🇧 @HouseofCommons delegation to #Taiwan 🇹🇼. He compared notes with the MPs on increasing authoritarian threats & other worrying issues at home & abroad. All concurred that cooperation between democracies is more vital than ever. pic.twitter.com/KO7vfmUSEp — 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) December 1, 2022

The committee, which scrutinises government policy, includes legislators from the ruling Conservatives as well as the opposition Labour party and the Scottish Nationalists.

“It is entirely right that democracies engage in dialogue with one another,” committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns said in response to the Chinese statement.

“Whilst the Chinese Communist Party has chosen to shut down dialogue by sanctioning British MPs, I believe that engaging with, and listening to, our friends across the Indo-Pacific, matters.”

In March 2021, China imposed sanctions on nine Britons, including some elected lawmakers, for spreading what it said were “lies and disinformation” about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Britain’s diplomatic relations with China have been strained for several years, amid rows over human rights, economic policy and the mass protests that shook the former British colony of Hong Kong in 2019 and led to the imposition of a sweeping national security law .

This week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the so-called “golden era” of relations between London and Beijing was over and that China posed a “systemic challenge” to the UK’s “values and interests”.

The British lawmakers met Taiwan’s Premier Su Tseng-chang on Thursday and are scheduled to meet President Tsai Ing-Wen on Friday.

“We look forward to continuing to deepen the friendly and cooperative relations between Taiwan and the UK through this face-to-face exchange, and to continue to work together for the peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region,” Tsai’s office said.

In August, the then-speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan , triggering unprecedented large scale war games from China and further straining ties between Beijing and the United States.

The US has formal relations with China, but under its policy of “ strategic ambiguity ” provides Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Beijing has stepped up pressure on the island since Tsai was first elected president in 2016, but an increasing number of politicians from the US and Europe have shown a willingness to travel to Taipei despite China’s objections .

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British mps plan to visit taiwan late this year: sources.

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The British House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee is planning to visit Taiwan later this year — probably in November or early December, sources said on Monday.

The trip — which was originally scheduled for early this year, but was postponed due to one member of the delegation testing positive for COVID-19 — was intended to show the UK’s support for Taiwan, the sources said.

The planned trip comes as London’s relationship with Beijing continues to deteriorate. Last week, both Conservative Party leadership candidates, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Liz Truss and British Member of Parliament Rishi Sunak, articulated tough positions on China.

Tom Tugendhat, a member of the British parliament, speaks during an extraordinary session of parliament to discuss the collapse of the Afghan government, in London on Aug. 18 last year.

Photo: AFP / Roger HARRIS / UK Parliament

China’s ambassador to the UK accused some British politicians of “peddling the fallacy of the so-called China threat” in a video remark.

British lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the foreign affairs select committee, is expected to lead the delegation, but as he extended his backing to Truss over the weekend, there was speculation he might be given a Cabinet-level job in the Truss administration if she wins the race next month.

Even if this happened, the trip would go ahead “whoever becomes the next chair,” one source said.

British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Liz Truss speaks during an event in Exeter, Britain, on Monday.

Photo: Reuters

It is unclear whether the British delegation would meet President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

Details of the trip are being hammered out, including the exact dates of the visit, sources said.

The move is yet another sign that London is strengthening its ties with Taiwan, as it now regards China as a long-term threat to the UK.

Truss has in the past few months urged Western nations to ensure that Taiwan can protect itself from China.

In June, she said in an interview that the UK should provide Taiwan with weapons.

The Taipei Representative Office in the UK declined to comment on details of the potential visit, but it said that Taiwan “welcomes any opportunities to strengthen its relations with Britain, including through visits from the UK.”

The Foreign Affairs Committee said it “has had a long-standing intention to visit Taiwan, within the context of its inquiry into the tilt to the Indo-Pacific” region.

However, it declined to comment on the details of the visit “due to security concerns and in line with normal practice.”

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British parliamentary delegation visits Taiwan

A 12-member delegation of parliamentarians from both houses of the UK parliament visited Taiwan from 17-23 September.

Led by Nigel Evans MP, Chair of the British Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group, the visit aimed to provide delegates with a greater understanding of Taiwan and to promote bilateral economic cooperation, with a particular focus on manufacturing, tourism and education.

The delegation met with President Tsai Ing-wen on 22 September, during which the president stressed Taiwan’s determination to participate in the international community as well as Taiwan’s hopes to sign a free trade agreement or a bilateral investment agreement with the UK. Thanking the British-Taiwanese APPG for its longstanding support for Taiwan’s international participation, President Tsai called on the UK to enhance cooperation with Taiwan so the two sides can respond to global challenges together.

The parliamentarians also visited the Legislative Yuan, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the National Development Council, the Mainland Affairs Council, the Bureau of Foreign Trade, the British Office Taipei and the British Council, while honorary receptions were held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taoyuan City Government. The delegates were also shown sites such as the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101 and Taroko Gorge National Park.

Members of the delegation included the MPs John Whittingdale, Stephen Timms, Bob Neill, Robert Halfon, Craig Whittaker, Iain Stewart, Rosie Cooper, Stephen Metcalfe, Bob Blackman and Damien Moore. The visit marks the fourth British parliamentary delegation to Taiwan of 2017.

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On the morning of May 19, President Tsai Ing-wen met with the United Kingdom Trade Envoy to Taiwan and a delegation from the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to attend the inauguration of the 16th-term president and vice president. In remarks, President Tsai thanked the UK for continuing to increase its support for Taiwan in the international arena. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to work with the UK and other democratic partners to maintain regional peace and stability and promote progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. She also said that she looks forward to Taiwan-UK relations continuing to advance with the support of British parliamentarians.

A translation of President Tsai’s remarks follows:

I am pleased to once again meet with our British friends on the final day of my presidency. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to express sincere appreciation for your efforts to promote Taiwan-UK relations over the years.

In recent times, the UK has continued to increase its support for Taiwan in the international arena. For example, the joint statements released after this year’s Australia-UK ministerial consultations and G7 foreign ministers’ meeting both underlined the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and supported Taiwan’s international participation.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lord Rogan, co-chair of the APPG, for consolidating support for Taiwan in the UK parliament. Your efforts have deepened our bonds of friendship and expanded our cooperation. Lord Faulkner, UK trade envoy to Taiwan, was a staunch advocate of the Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement, which Taiwan and the UK signed last year. We are now striving to develop areas of mutual interest, with a focus on cooperation in investment, digital trade, renewable energy, and achieving net-zero emissions.

Looking ahead, Taiwan will continue to work with the UK and other democratic partners to maintain regional peace and stability and to promote progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. After the United Kingdom officially accedes to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), we hope you will support Taiwan’s application to join this trade bloc. This will enable Taiwan to make greater contributions to global trade and supply chain resilience together with a wider group of partners. 

In closing, I thank you once again for attending the inauguration of the next administration. With your support, I look forward to Taiwan-UK relations continuing to advance.

Lord Rogan then delivered remarks and said that it was an honor to meet with President Tsai on the last day of her presidency. He emphasized that Taiwan has the utmost support from British parliamentarians of all parties and noted that the British-Taiwanese APPG is one of the largest such groups in the UK parliament. He also stated that the APPG would continue to support Taiwan under its new president. 

Lord Rogan said that as President Tsai moves into her new career, whatever it’s going to be, he trusts that it will enable her to visit the UK, and the members of the APPG would welcome her. He then thanked President Tsai for all she has done for the people of Taiwan. 

Lord Faulkner then delivered remarks, thanking President Tsai for everything she has done in her eight years as president to promote the friendship between the people of Taiwan and the UK. He also recalled seeing President Tsai last September for trade talks in his role as trade envoy to Taiwan. 

Lord Faulkner said that the standing of Taiwan, among British parliamentarians in particular, has grown enormously during President Tsai’s eight years in office due to the efforts that she made to promote links between the UK and Taiwan. Mentioning President Tsai’s links with London and the London School of Economics (LSE), Lord Faulkner expressed hope that LSE will to be able to honor her in their way. He said that he and the members of the delegation were sad to see President Tsai’s term come to an end, but acknowledged that that is how the democratic system works. He then said that they are very grateful for what President Tsai has done and that he hopes they remain good friends in the future. 

Also in attendance at the meeting were Member of the House of Lords Baroness D’Souza and Member of the House of Commons Sarah Champion. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by British Office Taipei Representative John Dennis.

On the morning of August 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Mário César Martins de Camargo, president-elect of Rotary International

On the morning of August 27, President Lai Ching-te met with Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chairman Ohashi Mitsuo. In remarks, President Lai thanked

On the morning of August 26, President Lai Ching-te met with British Office Taipei Representative John Dennis. In remarks, President Lai thanked Representative

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UK Pavilion, 3rd Largest country pavilion at SEMICON Taiwan

The UK Pavilion opened at SEMICON Taiwan 2024 as the 3rd largest country pavilion, with 24 businesses to explore opportunities for collaboration with Taiwan.

The UK’s dedication to supporting and empowering tech innovators remains strong. The UK Pavilion showcases the dynamic potential of Britain’s thriving tech sector and embodies our commitment to learning from and collaborating with Taiwan’s renowned semiconductor industry.  

John Dennis, Representative at the British Office Taipei said:

We continue to leverage the UK’s world-class expertise across the semiconductor supply chain, fostering innovation and strengthening international ties. Today is not just about inaugurating a pavilion; it is about paving the way for future collaborations between the UK and Taiwan. As global leaders in technology and innovation, with complementary strengths in the semiconductor sector, the UK and Taiwan are natural partners.

Dr Dave Smith, the UK’s National Technology Adviser said:

Taiwan is undoubtedly a powerhouse in advanced semiconductors manufacturing, and one of our top priority markets to support increased cooperation on semiconductors. Throughout my time here, I have been struck by the unique strengths and qualities that the UK and Taiwan bring to one another.  The UK has strengths across the entire semiconductor industry, with three particular areas of strategic advantage – our world-leading research and innovation system, our open market, and our technology ecosystem – and we want to work with likeminded partners like Taiwan to build on these advantages for mutual benefit. 

UK semiconductor research publication ranked 4th globally in 2019-2020, and areas of research strength include advanced packaging, advanced materials, and silicon photonics. The UK is also home to 140 design companies and CSConnected, the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster located in South Wales.  

The UK Pavilion offers various opportunities to gain insights into the UK semiconductor industry. An introduction to the whole UK Delegation, where every participating UK company delivering a 3-minute pitch, will be hosted by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency on 4 Sep, and there will be in-depth focus sessions on the following 2 days on compound semiconductors, photonics, memory, equipment, testing, manufacturing and materials.

Visit the UK Pavilion to learn more about the UK semiconductor industry by this Friday, 6 September.

UK Pavilion at SEMICON Taiwan 2024 

Opening time: Now until 4 pm, Friday, 6 September 

Location: Booth K2660, 1ST Floor, TaiNEX 1, Taipei

Read the full pavilion programme: UK Pavilion Programme at SEMICON Taiwan (en) ( ODT , 19.2 KB )

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