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UK Postpones Former Taiwanese President’s Visit to Avoid Upending Relations with China

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office (FCDO) has requested that a visit by former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen be delayed in order to avoid provoking China ahead of Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s forthcoming trip to the country, as reported by the Guardian.

David Lammy is scheduled to embark on his first official visit to China next week for high-level discussions.

Plans were in place for the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to host Tsai in Parliament this month. However, these plans were put on hold following indications from the Foreign Office that hosting Tsai could jeopardize Lammy’s upcoming diplomatic interactions in China, according to three sources who spoke to the Guardian.

One source involved in organizing Tsai’s visit detailed the communication from the FCDO: “We received a note through the Taiwanese representative in the UK, stating, ‘Please defer this for a while as the foreign secretary is due to make a ‘goodwill visit’ to China, and it would definitely derail that plan.’”

This situation presents a challenge for the newly elected Labour government, which is striving to mend the strained relations with Beijing that had worsened during the Conservative administration. The current ministers are exploring avenues for reinitiating high-level economic discussions with China, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning a trip to the nation next year.

The visit by Tsai has now been postponed until the spring. While Parliament is not required to seek governmental approval for arranging such visits, the APPG had hoped for support from Whitehall, particularly regarding security provisions. Parliamentary authorities were also involved in the planning stages.

Frances D’Souza, a crossbench peer and APPG member who attended the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, expressed the desire to host Tsai in Parliament soon. She acknowledged the political sensitivities but emphasized that Parliament serves as a democratic space accommodating a plethora of perspectives.

Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, chair of the defence select committee, reiterated the significance of Taiwan as a “crucial and esteemed partner” for the UK, advocating for strengthening of bilateral ties. He added, “I hope the government will extend a warm welcome to former President Tsai, whom I had the pleasure to meet during a parliamentary visit to Taiwan.”

Currently, Tsai is on a visit to various European nations as part of her first international tour post-presidency, with stops planned in Prague, Brussels, and potentially France.

In regards to ministerial travel plans, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office remarked, “Travel arrangements will be detailed in the usual manner. We prefer not to comment on speculation.” The Taipei representative office in the UK has not responded to inquiries for comment.

Although the UK lacks official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it maintains a long-standing unofficial relationship and a history of exchanges.

A delegation of Labour parliamentarians led by peer Sonny Leong visited Taiwan last April and met with Tsai shortly before she stepped down. That visit drew sharp criticism from the Chinese embassy in London, which accused the delegation of interfering in China’s domestic issues.

China considers Taiwan to be a breakaway region that will eventually be reintegrated into the mainland, and there are growing concerns that Beijing might resort to military action to reclaim control over the island.

Distinct from the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan operates under its own constitution and elects its leaders democratically. The island’s residents have increasingly opposed China’s sovereignty claims, and in the presidential election held last January, voters elected Lai Ching-te, who has committed to maintaining Taiwan’s self-governing status.

Labour ministers have signaled their intent to engage with Beijing on various issues such as trade and climate change while remaining vigilant regarding security risks and human rights violations. The party has promised to undertake a thorough review of the UK-China relationship, a process that is currently ongoing. Additionally, Lammy has expressed intentions to acknowledge China’s treatment of its Uyghur minority as genocide.

Source
www.theguardian.com