China on Monday reprimanded British Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands on a visit to Taiwan, the latest foreign official to disregard Beijing’s warnings on contacts with the self-governing island republic.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and threatens to annex it by force. It also seeks to isolate it diplomatically, requiring governments to have formal relations to respect its “one-China” principle.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily briefing, “The UK must sincerely respect China’s sovereignty, uphold the one-China principle, prevent any official contact with Taiwan and ensure Taiwan’s sovereignty.” Freedom should stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces.”
The British government said Hands was on a two-day visit, during which he would meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and co-host the 25th annual trade talks between the two sides. China has imposed visa restrictions and other forms of retaliation against foreign officials and governments that increase contacts with Taiwan.
Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations with only 14 countries and is excluded from the United Nations and other major multinational groups at Beijing’s insistence. Nevertheless, its thriving democracy, high-tech economy and strategic position in the Asia-Pacific have garnered strong support despite condemnation and threats from Beijing.
Following a visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the second presidential nominee, China fired missiles at Taiwan in the western Pacific and deployed nearby planes and ships in a virtual blockade of the island.
Such moves appear to have had little effect and visits from European and North American elected officials continue.
Noting Tsai’s ruling party and her strong support from the US and other Western democracies, Zhao warned Taiwanese officials that “their attempt to gain independence from foreign support is doomed to fail.”
Beijing’s close relations with Moscow after the Russian invasion Ukraine There are complicated matters ahead.
Latvia and Estonia abandoned a Chinese-backed forum aimed at boosting ties with Eastern European countries after China boosted its ties with Russia. China has refused to criticize Russia for its attack on Ukraine and condemned the economic sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow.
Russia’s conflicts in Ukraine have meanwhile focused on China’s potential military intentions towards Taiwan. This has put a new emphasis on the island’s combat forces and technology to thwart a Chinese offensive.
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