China bristles as UK minister arrives in Taiwan for commerce talks

China on Monday hit again at British Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands over his go to to Taiwan for talks with senior officers defying Beijing’s warnings to not have official contacts with Taipei, saying the UK goes again on its dedication to the one-China coverage.

The two-day go to, which started on Monday, bears political significance because it’s the primary journey by a high-level British official since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took workplace final month amid experiences that he might toe a hardline towards China.

The British minister’s go to to Taipei follows the August tour of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, the primary by an American prime chief in 25 years – prompting Beijing to resort to large-scale unprecedented army drills within the Taiwan Strait, which included the firing of missiles over the self-ruled island.

China claims Taiwan as a part of its mainland and its integration with the mainland is a part of avowed goal of Chinese President Xi Jinping who was elected as the pinnacle of the ruling Communist Party of China for a report third time period final month.

Much on the anticipated traces, Beijing reacted angrily to Hands’ go to, saying that it violates the one-China precept to which London is a signatory.

“There is only One-China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian informed a media briefing right here Monday.

“China rejects any country having diplomatic ties or any official interactions with Taiwan,” he stated.

The one-China precept is the political basis for UK-China relations, he stated.

The UK ought to “respect China’s position and stop official interactions with Taiwan and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan’s independent forces,” Zhao stated.

He additionally warned Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headed by Taiwanese President Tsai-Ing-wen.

“We also make it clear to DPP authorities that any attempt to seek independence by soliciting external support is doomed to fail,” he stated.

Sunak was anticipated to comply with a powerful coverage in direction of China as he beforehand labelled it as considered one of “the biggest, long-term threats to Britain”, and promised to get robust on Beijing.

Hands would co-host the primary in-person high-level commerce talks with Taipei for the reason that pandemic, “to boost trade and future-proof our economy through collaboration on green trade and supply chains”, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

First held in 1991, the UK-Taiwan commerce talks in Taipei had been carried out nearly in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19.

The division stated Hands would use the talks to sort out obstacles to commerce and promote British experience in areas like offshore wind and hydrogen.

“Visiting Taiwan in person is a clear signal of the UK’s commitment to boosting UK-Taiwan trade ties. Like the UK, Taiwan is a champion of free and fair trade underpinned by a rules-based global trading system,” it stated.

Hands additionally stated that boosting commerce with Taiwan was a part of Britain’s post-Brexit tilt in direction of the Indo-Pacific.

Closer collaboration would “help us future-proof our economy in the decades to come,” he stated.

“I first visited Taiwan 31 years ago in 1991 and it’s been fantastic to see the growth of this dynamic, vibrant economy. I’m thrilled to be the first trade minister here post-pandemic and to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of trade talks,” the Post quoted him as saying.

During the commerce talks, Innovate UK will signal a memorandum of understanding with Taipei’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, pledging to extend collaboration on know-how and innovation.

This features a USD 5.6 million funding dedication via 2025 and assist to UK companies through a bespoke innovation programme between the UK and Taiwan, the division stated.

Hands was additionally anticipated to satisfy President Tsai.