UK Trade Secretary Greg Hands will visit Taiwan next week. During the two-day visit, he will hold a series of trade talks and meet with President Tsai Ing-wen.
The UK Department for International Trade has announced that the minister will participate in the 25th Anglo-Taiwanese trade talks.
“The personal visit to Taiwan is a clear signal of the UK’s commitment to strengthening UK-Taiwan commercial ties,” he said in a press release.
“Like the UK, Taiwan is an advocate of free and fair trade, which is based on a rules-based global trading system,” the statement said.
Minister Greg Hands he will also meet with Taiwan’s top trade negotiator John Deng and the Minister of Economy Wang mei hua.
China’s reaction
Britain and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic relations, but maintain close economic ties. Both countries are also seeking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
China immediately reacted to reports of the British minister’s visit to Taiwan, calling on the UK to end such actions. Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its country. During the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China which has just ended, Xi Jinping He said China will “seek a peaceful solution” to the Taiwan issue, but at the same time will never give up its “right to use force.”
“We call on the British side to end all official relations with Taiwan and to stop sending the wrong signals to Taiwanese separatist forces seeking independence,” the Chinese foreign minister said. Zhao Lijan.
A similar situation occurred in August, when the House of Representatives announcer visited Taiwan Nancy pelosi. At that time, China also requested the cancellation of the visit. When the American politician traveled to Taiwan despite Chinese protests, China reacted, among other things, by organizing military maneuvers around the island.
