Category: Parliament

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN HL1774, tabled on 22 January 2024

Question
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Crossbench

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether the Foreign Secretary intends to visit China; and if so, (1) what assessment they have made of the achievements of the previous visit by a Foreign Secretary in August 2023, and (2) whether he will raise (a) the government of China’s treatment of the Uyghurs, (b) the erosion of democracy and imprisonment of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, (c) the sanctioning of UK parliamentarians by the government of Hong Kong, and (d) the government of China’s threats against Taiwan.

Answer
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Conservative

Answered on
7 February 2024

We consistently raise China’s human rights violations, sanctions against UK parliamentarians and our objection to the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong with the Chinese authorities; most recently the Foreign Secretary did so with Wang Yi during their call on 5 December. On 17 December, the Foreign Secretary also called for the repeal of the National Security Law and an end to the prosecution of all individuals under it. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. For future Ministerial visits – human rights remain a key component of our advocacy.

 

Question for Department for Business and Trade
UIN 12070, tabled on 30 January 2024

Question
Navendu Mishra
Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled UK and Taiwan Enhanced Trade Partnership arrangement, published on 14 November 2023, whether she plans to negotiate a bilateral investment treaty with Taiwan.

Answer
Greg Hands
Conservative

Answered on
7 February 2024

The UK’s longstanding policy on Taiwan has not changed: the UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties.

The Department for Business and Trade is currently working on an Enhanced Trade Partnership with Taiwan; currently there are no plans to negotiate a bilateral investment treaty with Taiwan.

 

Question for Department of Health and Social Care
UIN 12068, tabled on 30 January 2024

Question
Navendu Mishra
Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Taiwan signed on 10 July 2023, what progress has been made to further cooperation on reciprocal health insurance agreements.

Answer
Andrew Stephenson
Conservative

Answered on
6 February 2024

A UK-Taiwan Healthcare Dialogue was held in July 2023, where reciprocal healthcare was discussed. We are awaiting further views from Taiwanese officials, who are consulting internally on the issue.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 10811, tabled on 22 January 2024

Question
Jim Shannon
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with his international counterparts on tackling AI-generated misinformation reportedly targeted at disrupting the internal democratic processes of Taiwan.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
30 January 2024

It is for the Taiwanese people to decide their leader, free from interference. The elections that took place on 13 January are testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which we have restated alongside our G7 partners.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN HL1583, tabled on 15 January 2024

Question
The Marquess of Lothian
Conservative

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the levels of tension between the governments of Taiwan and China following the presidential elections that took place in Taiwan on 13 January.

Answer
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Conservative

Answered on
29 January 2024

The elections that took place on 13 January are testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We have restated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait alongside our G7 partners.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 9589, tabled on 15 January 2024

Question
Catherine West
Labour

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he had made of the potential impact of the election of Lai Ching-te on regional stability.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
18 January 2024

The elections that took place on 13 January are testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We have restated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait alongside our G7 partners.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 9377, tabled on 15 January 2024

Question
Mr David Lammy
Labour

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he has taken to help prevent risk of conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
18 January 2024

The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We have restated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait alongside our G7 partners.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 9378, tabled on 15 January 2024

Question
Mr David Lammy
Labour

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the increase in Chinese aerial incursions and military activity in the Taiwan Strait.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
18 January 2024

The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. China’s continued military flights near Taiwan are part of an ongoing pattern of escalatory activity and are not conducive to peace and stability. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, including increased Chinese assertiveness towards Taiwan. We have restated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait alongside our G7 partners.

 

Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN HL138, tabled on 8 November 2023

Question
Lord Rogan
Ulster Unionist Party

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to deploy UK Armed Forces to the Indo-Pacific region to help counter the threat from China to Taiwan.

Answer
The Earl of Minto
Conservative

Answered on
22 November 2023

The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo. This includes increased Chinese assertiveness towards Taiwan.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 2221, tabled on 15 November 2023

Question
Navendu Mishra
Labour

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many British diplomatic staff are based in Taiwan as of 15 November 2023.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
21 November 2023

The UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. The UK has no diplomatic staff in Taiwan. Approximately 50 staff work at the British Office in Taipei. This is a combination of staff from the UK and staff employed locally.