Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss will say in Taiwan on Wednesday that the West should not appease China and show strong support for the self-governing island in a speech that threatens to further damage Britain’s relationship with Beijing.
Truss is the most high-profile British politician to visit Taiwan since former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1990s, and her trip comes at a time when UK-China relations are at their worst in decades.
He represents the hawkish wing of the ruling Conservative Party which opposes the British government’s approach to China, which seeks engagement in areas such as trade and climate change while seeking to reduce national security risks.
Contrary to efforts by French President Emmanuel Macron to steer Europe away from any involvement in the conflict over Taiwan, Truss would say it is “absolutely irresponsible” for European countries to argue that the island is too far away or unimportant.
China claims Taiwan as its own and has not refrained from using force to bring about eventual unification. Beijing has previously condemned a visit by British lawmakers to Taiwan for what it says is meddling in China’s internal affairs.
“We must support a free democracy like Taiwan against the aggression of the Chinese regime which the world knows very well what it is doing,” Truss said, according to excerpts from his speech. “The only choice we have is whether to calm down and comply – or whether we take action to avoid conflict.”
After being removed from office for a record 49 days in October last year over unfunded tax cuts that roiled financial markets, Truss has made speeches to restore his political reputation and pressured his successor, Rishi Sunak, to take a stronger stance on a number of points. .
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London criticized his visit, calling it a “dangerous political show that will only harm the UK”.
In the clearest attempt to explain Britain’s approach to China under Sunak, Secretary of State James Cleverly said last month it was a mistake to isolate Beijing and that engagement was needed in areas like climate change.
“There are still too many in the West trying to cling to the idea that we can work with China on issues like climate change,” Truss said. “Without freedom and democracy there is nothing else.”
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