The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday thanked the British parliament for showing concern over the increasing threat to regional peace emanating from China after a report by British lawmakers described Taiwan as “an independent country” for the first time.
Taiwan “sincerely welcomes” the concern the British parliament displayed for the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and China’s threats, the ministry said in a news release.
The nation views the UK as a like-minded partner, and is eager to boost bilateral ties in trade and investment, cooperation in the semiconductor industry and information technology, offshore wind power and other areas, it said.
Photo: AFP
Published by the British House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee concurrently with British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly’s visit to Beijing, the report on Britain’s so-called “Indo-Pacific tilt” said that Taiwan “is already an independent country under the name Republic of China.”
“Taiwan possesses all the qualifications for statehood, including a permanent population, a defined territory, government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states — it is only lacking greater international recognition,” the report said.
China poses “a threat to the UK and its interests,” it said. “The behavior of the Chinese Communist Party is currently characterized by increased aggression” to Britain.
The document also criticized British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s approach to China saying: “There is confusion in Whitehall about the tilt to the Indo-Pacific, stemming from a failure to explain the policy, and its implications for resource allocation, across government.”
The report urged London to develop “deterrence diplomacy,” increase resilience and defense cooperation with allies, counter Beijing’s threats and protect “the self-determination of the people of Taiwan.”
Cleverly told Bloomberg in an interview that the report was “not a UK government document” and added that London’s stance “has remained consistent that there should be no unilateral change to the status quo.”
“Any changes should be done through discussions on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” he said.
British Member of Parliament Alicia Kearnes, who is chair of the committee, told Agence France-Presse that “we acknowledge China’s position, but we as [the foreign affairs committee] do not accept it.”
“Strengthening our diplomatic, defensive and economic ties in the Indo-Pacific is critical — if the West leaves a vacuum, China will eagerly fill it,” Kearnes said.
London should announce a policy of “zero tolerance of transnational repression,” including expelling foreign diplomats who intimidate or attack British citizens or those given refuge in the UK, she added.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
RSS