Category: Parliament

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 2220, tabled on 15 November 2023

Question
Navendu Mishra
Labour

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he plans to take diplomatic steps to support Taiwan’s application to join World Health Assembly.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
21 November 2023

The UK believes that the people of Taiwan have a valuable contribution to make on issues of global concern. We therefore support Taiwanese meaningful participation in international organisations, as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite, and as an observer or guest where it is.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 201328, tabled on 13 October 2023

Question
James Sunderland
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason his Department has not approved the draft Tax Information Exchange Agreement negotiated between the British Virgin Islands and Taiwan.

Answer
David Rutley
Conservative

Answered on
23 October 2023

The UK Government is discussing, with the Government of the British Virgin Islands, the development of a draft Tax Information Exchange Arrangement between the British Virgin Islands and Taiwan. It would not be appropriate to comment on this publicly before these discussions have concluded. The UK Government welcomes the ongoing cooperation of the British Virgins Islands in this matter.

 

Question for Department for Business and Trade
UIN HL10125, tabled on 13 September 2023

Question
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Crossbench

To ask His Majesty’s Government, with reference to the most recent visit by Lord Johnson of Lainston to the People’s Republic of China, who he met; what he discussed; what response he received to any representations he may have made on the government of China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority, threats to Taiwan, and imprisonment of pro-democracy advocates and lawmakers in Hong Kong, including the British citizen Jimmy Lai.

Answer
Lord Johnson of Lainston
Conservative

Answered on
27 September 2023

In China, I met businesses and investors. Whilst attending the China International Fair for Trade in Services, I was briefly introduced to the Minister of Commerce and the Party Secretary of Beijing. I expressed support for our trade and investment relationship, where it is consistent with our values and national security.

On 30 August, The Foreign Secretary visited China meeting senior government figures. He emphasised the UK’s position on the mass incarceration of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang, the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and raised rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, including the case of Jimmy Lai.

 

Question for Department for Education
UIN 196279, tabled on 1 September 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2023 to Question 187963 on Department for Education: Taiwan, if she will identify which minister represented her Department for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in 2022; and if she will identify the (i) job title and (ii) grade of the most senior official who represented her Department when a minister was not present for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in 2022.

Answer
Nick Gibb
Conservative

Answered on
26 September 2023

No Department for Education Ministers met with representatives of the Taiwan administration in 2022.

The Department had regular official level meetings with representatives of the Taiwanese administration during this period, both in the UK and through the British Office in Taipei, in line with our longstanding policy on Taiwan.

 

Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 198071, tabled on 6 September 2023

Question
Daniel Kawczynski
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help safeguard passage through the Taiwan Strait.

Answer
James Heappey
Conservative

Answered on
13 September 2023

The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We oppose any action which changes the facts on the ground, raises tensions and hinders the chances of peaceful settlement of the disputes. We will therefore continue to encourage open communication and de-escalation. As a P5 country, we have an interest in upholding international law and freedom of navigation. In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration declared that China has no legal basis to claim its “historic” rights in the South China Sea.

Our maritime presence in the region has grown, with the deployment of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), HMS SPEY and HMS TAMAR, supporting our persistent presence approach. HMS SPEY last navigated through the Taiwan Strait in January this year and the People’s Liberation Army Navy response to her transit was assessed as safe and professional.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 196276, tabled on 1 September 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2023 to Question 190783 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Taiwan: Foreign Relations, if he will identify which minister represented his Department for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020, (d) 2021, (e) 2022 and (f) 2023; and if he will identify the (i) job title and (ii) grade of the most senior official who represented his Department when a minister was not present for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in (A) 2018, (B) 2019, (C) 2020, (D) 2021, (E) 2022 and (F) 2023.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
11 September 2023

There have been no meetings between ministers from this Department and Taiwan in the years 2018 to 2023. The Department has had regular official level meetings with representatives of the Taiwanese administration during this period, both in the UK and through the British Office in Taipei, in line with our longstanding policy on Taiwan.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 195952, tabled on 1 September 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, whether he plans to take diplomatic steps to support Taiwan’s application to join CPTPP.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
11 September 2023

The UK has welcomed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) members’ willingness to expand the group. Membership is open to all economies willing and able to meet the high standards of the agreement, and with a demonstrated pattern of complying with their trade commitments. The UK’s priority now is the key parliamentary processes needed to take place before the deal can be ratified, and we will not be commenting on the specifics of Taiwan or any other economies’ interest in the agreement.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 195953, tabled on 1 September 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of (a) a blockade and (b) an invasion of Taiwan on the economy.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
11 September 2023

The UK’s longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. 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. The Government is continually working to strengthen the UK’s contingency planning across a range of international challenges, including threats to global supply chains. The Integrated Review Refresh outlines clearly and in detail our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific; and sets out how we protect UK interests including our economy and supply chains.

 

Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
UIN 196278, tabled on 1 September 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2023 to Question 187964 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Taiwan, if she will identify which minister represented her Department for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020, (d) 2021, (e) 2022 and (f) 2023; and if she will identify the (i) job title and (ii) grade of the most senior official who represented her Department when a minister was not present for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in (A) 2018, (B) 2019, (C) 2020, (D) 2021, (E) 2022 and (F) 2023.

Answer
Mark Spencer
Conservative

Answered on
11 September 2023

The Department had regular official level meetings with representatives of the Taiwanese administration during this period, both in the UK and through the British Office in Taipei, in line with our longstanding policy on Taiwan.

 

Question for Department for Culture, Media and Sport
UIN 196280, tabled on 1 September 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2023 to Question 187962 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Taiwan, if she will identify which minister represented her Department for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020, (d) 2021, (e) 2022 and (f) 2023; and if she will identify the (i) job title and (ii) grade of the most senior official who represented her Department when a minister was not present for each meeting it held with representatives of the Taiwan Government in (A) 2018, (B) 2019, (C) 2020, (D) 2021, (E) 2022 and (F) 2023.

Answer
Sir John Whittingdale
Conservative

Answered on
11 September 2023

From 2018 to 2022 there has been no Ministerial led discussions with representatives of the Taiwan administration.

The Department did have official level meetings with representatives of the Taiwanese administration during this period, in line with our longstanding policy on Taiwan.