Beijing accuses UK of disrespect as trade minister visits Taiwan

Talks to boost economic ties send wrong signals to island state’s independence movement, says China

CHINA has heavily condemned the UK for sending a trade minister to talks in Taiwan, insisting that “official contacts” with the self-governing island republic must cease.

Greg Hands began a two-day visit yesterday with talks aimed at “boosting trade” and promoting UK expertise in hydrogen and offshore wind.

He is to meet Tsai Ing-wen, the president, and co-host the Uk-taiwan 25th annual trade talks in Taipei.

However, China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and has threatened to annex the island by force, has urged Britain to back off.

Beijing has sought to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, imposing visa bans and other forms of retaliation against foreign officials and governments that have reached out.

Zhao Lijian, a foreign ministry spokesman, said at a daily briefing that the UK should uphold the so-called “one-china principle” and stop “any forms of official contacts with Taiwan”.

The island is excluded from the United Nations at Beijing’s insistence, with only 14 official diplomatic allies.

However, it has drawn increasing backing from major nations, including Japan, Australia, the US, Canada and many across Europe.

A recent visit from Nancy Pelosi, the US House speaker, provoked outrage from Beijing, with missiles fired over Taiwan into the western Pacific and aircraft and ships positioned nearby in a virtual blockade of the island.

Mr Zhao said the UK should “[respect] China’s sovereignty, uphold the one-china principle, stop any forms of official contacts with Taiwan and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces”.

Downing Street defended the visit, with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman telling reporters: “We have a long-established trade relationship with Taiwan, it’s worth £8billion a year.

“These are annual talks between the UK and the ministry of economic affairs in Taiwan, we have a vibrant, longstanding relationship on areas like trade and culture, and this will form part of that engagement.”

Ahead of his visit, Mr Hands said: “Boosting trade with this vital partner is part of the UK’S post-brexit tilt towards the Indo-pacific and closer collaboration will help us future-proof our economy in the decades to come.”

Talks with Chern-chyi Chen, a trade minister, will look at “tackling barriers to trade in sectors such as fintech, food and drink, and pharma, to help more UK firms export and invest in Taiwan”, the Department for International Trade said, adding that Mr Hands “will also promote UK expertise in offshore wind, hydrogen and electric vehicles”.

The £8billion trade partnership with Taiwan has risen 14 per cent in the last two years, according to the department, with exports to Taiwan going up by 12 per cent in that period.

Amid the trade talks, Innovate UK, the national innovation agency, will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan.