Category: Parliament

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Question / China: Taiwan

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 175780, tabled on 25 March 2021

Question
Daniel Kawczynski
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans the Government has to ensure British ships instigate freedom of navigation exercises in the straits between China and Taiwan.

Answer
Nigel Adams
Conservative

Answered on
13 April 2021

Many international ships, both military and commercial, travel through the Taiwan Strait and such actions are routine and non-contentious. All activities conducted by the Royal Navy are and will be in accordance with international law.

 

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Question / Taiwan: Foreign Relations

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 171505, tabled on 18 March 2021

Question
Sir George Howarth
Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of bi-lateral relations between Taiwan and the UK.

Answer
Nigel Adams
Conservative

Answered on
25 March 2021

The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but we do have a strong, unofficial relationship, based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. This relationship delivers significant benefits to both the UK and Taiwan and has featured a wide range of exchanges and visits, for example on environmental, judicial and educational issues.

 

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Question / China: Foreign Relations

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN HL12772, tabled on 1 February 2021

Question
Lord Blencathra
Conservative

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 22 January (HL11916), and reports of (1) hostile espionage, (2) threats to Taiwan, and (3) the persecution of Uighurs in Xinjiang, by the government of China, why the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to refer to that government as a strategic partner.

Answer
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Conservative

Answered on
15 February 2021

Our approach to China remains clear-eyed and rooted in our values and our interests. As two global leaders with permanent seats on the UN Security Council, it is right for the UK and China to pursue a strong and constructive relationship in many areas. This does not mean that we hesitate to raise concerns and intervene where needed. This resolve was highlighted by the Foreign Secretary’s announcement of new, targeted measures in respect of Xinjiang on 12 January. While we continue to engage, we will always protect our national interests and hold China to its international commitments and promises.

 

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Question / Taiwan: Sovereignty

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN HL12714, tabled on 28 January 2021

Question
Baroness Hoey
Non-affiliated

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to recognise Taiwan as an independent country.

Answer
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Conservative

Answered on
11 February 2021

The UK’s longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but we do have a strong, unofficial relationship, based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. The Taiwan issue is one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, through constructive dialogue.

 

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Question / China: Taiwan

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 143887, tabled on 26 January 2021

Question
Paul Girvan
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the Government of China’s military threats against Taiwan.

Answer
Nigel Adams
Conservative

Answered on
3 February 2021

We are concerned by any action which raises tensions in the region and risks destabilising the status quo. Her Majesty’s Government considers the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue.

 

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Question / Taiwan: Sovereignty

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN HL11344, tabled on 10 December 2020

Question
Lord Field of Birkenhead
Crossbench

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to coordinate international partners to support Taiwan’s sovereignty.

Answer
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Conservative

Answered on
23 December 2020

Our international partners are aware of the UK’s longstanding position on Taiwan, which has not changed. The Taiwan issue is one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, through constructive dialogue. The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but we do have a strong, unofficial relationship, based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties.

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Question / Taiwan: World Health Organisation

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 127625, tabled on 9 December 2020

Question
Paul Girvan
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government supports the Republic of China (Taiwan) becoming a full member of World Health Organisation.

Answer
Nigel Adams
Conservative

Answered on
18 December 2020

Membership of the World Health Organisation is open only to states recognised by the UN. However, the UK supports Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations where statehood is not a prerequisite for their participation.

 

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Question / World Health Assembly: Taiwan

Q Asked by Alicia Kearns MP
Asked on: 17 November 2020

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
China: Taiwan / UIN 116673

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the refusal of the World Healthy Assembly at its 73rd plenary to consider Taiwan for membership of the Assembly; and what steps the UK and allied countries are taking to ensure that Taiwan is recognised in global health forums.

A Answered by: Nigel Adams
Answered on: 25 November 2020

The UK continues to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations where statehood is not a prerequisite. This includes the World Health Organization (WHO), where Taiwan can make a valuable contribution. The UK recently worked alongside likeminded countries to lobby the WHO at official level to issue an invitation to Taiwan to observe this month’s World Health Assembly and continues to lobby the WHO to allow Taiwan to participate in all relevant WHO technical meetings. Lessons learnt from Taiwan’s effective tackling of the COVID-19 pandemic adds significant value to the international fight against the virus.

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Question / China: Taiwan

Q Asked by Alicia Kearns MP
Asked on: 17 November 2020

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
China: Taiwan / UIN 116676

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of reports that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has built a full-scale replica of Taiwan’s presidential office building to serve as a military training complex; and whether the UK plans to provide Taiwan with appropriate assistance to preserve its existing status.

A Answered by: Nigel Adams
Answered on: 24 November 2020

We are concerned by any action which raises tensions in the region and risks destabilising the status quo. HMG considers the Taiwan issue one to be settled by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue.

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Question / Northern Cyprus and Taiwan: Sovereignty

Q Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
Asked on: 16 November 2020

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Northern Cyprus and Taiwan: Sovereignty / UIN HL10352

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 10 November (HL9658), what assessment they have made of any difference between their policies towards recognising (1) the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and (2) Taiwan; what are the reasons for any such differences; and what plans they have to treat both territories equally.

A Answered by: Baroness Sugg
Answered on: 24 November 2020

Taiwan and the northern part of Cyprus are two very different political realities. HMG’s position is informed by the particular context of each situation.

A comprehensive settlement to end the division of Cyprus is the best way to resolve the challenges faced by both Cypriot communities, and the UK is encouraging the parties to demonstrate their renewed commitment to that end. In line with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” as an independent state. Our position respects UN Security Council resolutions on the issue. The UK recognises only one Cypriot state – the Republic of Cyprus – and only one government as the sole legitimate government.

The UK’s longstanding policy on Taiwan has not changed: we have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship, based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. We regularly lobby in favour of Taiwan’s participation in international organisations where statehood is not a prerequisite.