Following a visit by a number of officials to Taiwan earlier this month, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, British minister of state, expressed the UK's strong opposition to the use of force in the Taiwan Strait.
"We take every opportunity to convey to the Chinese government, and through informal channels to the Taiwanese authorities, our strong opposition to the use of force or to any action that raises possible areas of tension across the Taiwan Strait," Symons said last Monday while answering questions in the House of Lords concerning Taiwan's defensive referendum and bids to join international bodies.
She made the remarks in response to questions by Lord Faulkner of Worcester, vice chairman of the British-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group, who visited Taiwan with a number of British officials at the beginning of the month.
President Chen Shui-bian (
Faulkner asked the baroness in the House of Lords whether the UKs government would support the resolution passed by the European Parliament on Dec. 18 last year to maintain the EU embargo on selling arms to China.
"Ministers are currently considering the United Kingdom's position," Symons said. "In the meantime, we shall continue fully to implement the arms embargo."
Faulkner suggested to Symons that the UK government could demand the removal of the missiles which China is aiming at Taiwan as an "absolute precondition" for the resumption of arms sales to China.
Faulkner asked the baroness whether the UK government believes Taiwan's defensive referendum is entirely a matter for the people of Taiwan, or whether China should be consulted. While recognizing the importance of Faulkner's questions concerning China and Taiwan, Symons did not directly touch on the referendum issue.
"I assured him [Faulkner] that the government attaches great importance to the avoidance of conflict in the Taiwan Strait," she said.
Lord Avebury asked Symons whether the UK should adopt better measures to protect Taiwan from Chinese aggression in future by enhancing Taiwan's status in the international community.
"If we cannot recognize Taiwan as an independent country, which it is, in a legal sense, should we try to ensure the admission of Taiwan to international bodies such as the World Health Organization?" Avebury asked.
Symons replied that any recognition of that kind is "bound to raise international tensions between Taiwan and China."
"Laudable as much of the motivation is behind his question, the noble lord must also consider the outcomes of increasing the tensions that would inevitably follow any such move," Symons said.
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not
RSS