Category: Parliament

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Question / Interpol: Taiwan

Q Asked by Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering)
Asked on: 06 November 2018

Home Office
Interpol: Taiwan / 188779

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will support the granting of observer status to Taiwan at the 87th Interpol General Assembly in Dubai from 18 to 21 November 2018.

A Answered by: Mr Nick Hurd
Answered on: 12 November 2018

INTERPOL is an international police organisation which has a crucial role in ensuring co-operation on matters of international criminality.

The British Government continues to hold the view that the people of Taiwan have a meaningful contribution to make towards global issues such as organised crime. The UK has not made any representations to secure Taiwan’s observer status at INTERPOL this year. However, government officials are discussing this issue with international partners.

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Question / Interpol: Taiwan

Q Asked by Lord Steel of Aikwood
Asked on: 05 November 2018

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Interpol: Taiwan / HL11292

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations, if any, they have made to secure an observer place for Taiwan at the forthcoming General Assembly of Interpol, and for that country to have access to the I-24/7 global police communications system.

A Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Answered on: 15 November 2018

The British Government believes that the people of Taiwan have a valuable contribution to make towards global issues such as organised crime. Their involvement would, in our view, improve co-operation on issues that pose a risk to the international community, including the United Kingdom and our own people. Although the UK has not made any representations to secure Taiwan’s observer status at INTERPOL this year, we are discussing this issue with international partners, including those countries on the INTERPOL Executive Committee.

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Question / Taiwan: China

Q Asked by Lord Steel of Aikwood
Asked on: 11 July 2018

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Taiwan: China / HL9452

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take measures to protect British Airways and any other UK companies from being pressured into changing the designation of Taiwan to Taiwan, China.

A Answered by: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Answered on: 19 July 2018

Her Majesty’s Government’s long-standing policy on Taiwan has not changed. The British government refers to Taiwan as simply “Taiwan” and, when included in a list of places, does so under an inclusive heading, such as “country/territory” or “world locations”. When guidance has been sought from Her Majesty’s Government on the terminology to use, we have been clear about the British Government’s terminology for Taiwan.

Private companies and organisations should be able to decide the terminology that they use to list destinations. UK companies should not be placed under political pressure to make changes. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Officials have registered our concern with the Chinese Government on this point.

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Question / China: Multinational Companies

Q Asked by Andrea Jenkyns (Morley and Outwood)
Asked on: 02 July 2018

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
China: Multinational Companies / 159672

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to join allies of the UK in countering China’s (a) pressuring of airlines to comply with its nomenclature for Taiwan and (b) attempting in other ways to impose its political ideology on international companies.

A Answered by: Mark Field
Answered on: 10 July 2018

Her Majesty’s Government’s long-standing policy on Taiwan has not changed. The British Government refers to Taiwan as simply “Taiwan” and, when included in a list of places, does so under an inclusive heading, such as “country/territory” or “world locations”. When guidance has been sought from HMG on the terminology to use, we have been clear about the British Government’s terminology for Taiwan.

Private companies and organisations should be able to decide the terminology that they use to list destinations. UK companies should not be placed under political pressure to make changes. FCO Officials have registered our concern with the Chinese Government on this point.

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Question / China: Multinational Companies

Q Asked by Andrea Jenkyns (Morley and Outwood)
Asked on: 02 July 2018

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
China: Multinational Companies / 159671

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the implications are for his policies of China’s (a) pressuring British Airways and other airlines to use its nomenclature for Taiwan on their websites and (b) interfering in other ways in the free operation of international business.

A Answered by: Mark Field
Answered on: 10 July 2018

Her Majesty’s Government’s long-standing policy on Taiwan has not changed. The Government refers to Taiwan as simply “Taiwan” and, when included in a list of places, does so under an inclusive heading, such as “country/territory” or “world locations”. When guidance has been sought from HMG on the terminology to use, we have been clear about the British Government’s terminology for Taiwan.

Private companies and organisations should be able to decide the terminology that they use to list destinations. UK companies should not be placed under political pressure to make changes. FCO Officials have registered our concern with the Chinese Government on this point.

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Early Day Motion 2216

TAIWAN’S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION AND UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Session: 2010-2012
Date tabled: 10.10.2011
Primary sponsor: Andrew Rosindell
Sponsors: David Amess, Peter Bottomley, Jim Dobbin, Mike Hancock, Jim Shannon

That this House supports Taiwan’s continued efforts to participate in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO); commends the fact that the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution on 11 May 2011 reiterating its support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation as an observer in relevant international organisations, such as the UNFCCC, World Health Organisation and ICAO; recognises that Taiwan is a key transport hub in international air travel, serving more than one million flights and 40 million passengers per year; notes that Taiwan suffers unnecessary obstacles in terms of remaining up to date with the latest ICAO standards and procedures as a result of its exclusion, which leads to risks to international aviation safety; further recognises that, being deeply integrated in the global economy, Taiwan both contributes to and is affected by global warming; acknowledges that Taiwan can contribute to and benefit from global coordination against climate change via participation in the UNFCCC; and calls on the Government to support efforts for Taiwan to be invited to participate in the meetings and activities of ICAO and UNFCCC as an observer.

 

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Early Day Motion 2215

TAIWAN-EU ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT

Session: 2010-12
Date tabled: 10.10.2011
Primary sponsor: Andrew Rosindell
Sponsors: David Amess, Peter Bottomley, Jim Dobbin, Mike Hancock, Jim Shannon

“That this House supports the signing of an Economic Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Taiwan; notes the rapprochement between the two governments across the Taiwan Strait, which has so far led to the signing of 15 mutual agreements, including the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which reduces the trade barriers of mainland China’s market to products of Taiwanese origin and vice versa; acknowledges that the expansion of cross-strait economic relations is in the interest of those on both sides and of the EU; recognises that Taiwan achieved 10.88 per cent. GDP growth in 2010, is the EU’s 14th largest trading partner globally and its 6th largest trading partner in Asia, with total trade volume of 37 billion; observes that Taiwan’s high-tech industry, economic growth and expanding trade provide a mutually beneficial opportunity for co-operation between the EU and Taiwan; commends the fact that the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution on 11 May 2011 supporting the further strengthening of Taiwan-EU trade and economic ties and the signing of a bilateral economic co-operation agreement; and calls on the Government to encourage the EU to conduct negotiations with Taiwan with the goal of agreeing a Taiwan-EU Economic Co-operation Agreement.”