Category: Parliament

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 188653, tabled on 9 June 2023

Question
Sir Iain Duncan Smith
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Rhodium Group report entitled The Global Economic Disruptions from a Taiwan Conflict, published on14 December 2022, what assessment he has made of the impact of a potential blockade or invasion of Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China on the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
14 June 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. As the Foreign Secretary set out in his Mansion House speech, no country could shield itself from the economic repercussions should peace and stability fail in the Taiwan Strait. It’s therefore essential that no party takes unilateral action to change the status quo.

Question for Department for Education
UIN 187963, tabled on 6 June 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has had discussions with representatives of the Government of Taiwan in each of the last five years.

Answer
Robert Halfon
Conservative

Answered on
14 June 2023

The UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It has a strong, unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas, underpinned by shared democratic values.

The department had discussions with representatives of the Taiwan administration in 2022.

Question for Department for Transport
UIN 187965, tabled on 6 June 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had discussions with representatives of the Government of Taiwan in each of the last five years.

Answer
Jesse Norman
Conservative

Answered on
13 June 2023

The UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but there is a strong, unofficial relationship, based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas, underpinned by shared democratic values.

The Department for Transport has had discussions with representatives of the Taiwan administration in each of the last 5 years.

Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
UIN 187964, tabled on 6 June 2023

Question
Elizabeth Truss
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with representatives of the Government of Taiwan in each of the last five years.

Answer
Mark Spencer
Conservative

Answered on
12 June 2023

The UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship, based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas, underpinned by shared democratic values.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has had discussions with representatives of the Taiwan administration in years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 on agri-food matters.

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 186353, tabled on 23 May 2023

Question
Jim Shannon
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Chinese counterpart on Taiwan.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
31 May 2023

The Foreign Secretary discussed Taiwan with his counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in February this year.

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 185238, tabled on 16 May 2023

Question
Daniel Kawczynski
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his department plans to provide (a) financial and (b) other support to Taiwan.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
23 May 2023

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 deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas, and underpinned by shared democratic values. The UK-Taiwan relationship delivers significant benefits to both sides and has featured a wide range of exchanges and visits, for example on environmental, judicial and educational issues. We also 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 184307, tabled on 10 May 2023

Question
Andrew Rosindell
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to visit the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the next 12 months.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
16 May 2023

No visit to Taiwan is planned by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. The UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship, based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas, and underpinned by shared democratic values.

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 184308, tabled on 10 May 2023

Question
Andrew Rosindell
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to enhance the relationship between the UK and the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
16 May 2023

The UK has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but does have a strong, unofficial relationship, based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas, and underpinned by shared democratic values. We continue to engage with Taiwan on economic, trade, education 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 judicial, health and educational issues.

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN HL7570, tabled on 2 May 2023

Question
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Crossbench

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to discuss the continuing threats to the freedom of the people of Taiwan and, in particular, their right to democracy and self-determination, with the Vice-President of China, Han Zheng, during his visit to London for the Coronation.

Answer
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Conservative

Answered on
15 May 2023

The Foreign Secretary met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on 5 May and set out the UK’s views on Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Government’s approach is to engage constructively with China while steadfastly defending our national security and our values. We will continue to raise human rights issues directly with China. Similarly, we will continue to use our channels with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to make clear our strong opposition to the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, the deliberate targeting of opposition voices and China’s ongoing non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The UK’s longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. 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.