Category: Parliament

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 181576, tabled on 19 April 2023

Question
Sir Iain Duncan Smith
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his policy is on (a) the status of Taiwan as a state and (b) peace in Taiwan.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
27 April 2023

The UK’s longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. The UK acknowledges the position of the Chinese Government that Taiwan is a province of China. 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 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.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 174220, tabled on 27 March 2023

Question
Fabian Hamilton
Labour

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

Answer
David Rutley
Conservative

Answered on
30 March 2023

Honduran recognition policy is a matter for the Honduran Government. The UK’s long-standing position remains that the Taiwan issue should be settled peacefully by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through dialogue, and not through any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 127860, tabled on 19 January 2023

Question
Catherine West
Labour

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held discussions with the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the potential impact on the British economy of third-country military action against Taiwan.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
24 January 2023

Our approach towards China and the Indo-Pacific is coordinated across Government at the highest level. Work is underway to update the Integrated Review to ensure we continue to invest in the alliances and capabilities we need, while strengthening our supply chain security and economic resilience. 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.

 

Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 106371, tabled on 8 December 2022

Question
Andrew Rosindell
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to take steps to provide naval patrols around Taiwan.

Answer
James Heappey
Conservative

Answered on
15 December 2022

The UK is committed to asserting its rights to freedom of navigation and overflight, as laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Wherever we operate in the world we do so in full compliance with international laws and norms. The last transit through the Taiwan Strait was carried out by the Royal Navy in 2021, when HMS Richmond (Type 23 Frigate) conducted a Taiwan Strait Navigation during CSG21 deployment en route to Vietnam.

 

Question for Ministry of Defence
UIN 106370, tabled on 8 December 2022

Question
Andrew Rosindell
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will take steps to provide military aid to Taiwan.

Answer
James Heappey
Conservative

Answered on
15 December 2022

The UK’s longstanding policy on Taiwan has not changed: we have no diplomatic or military 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 Ministry of Defence
UIN 106342, tabled on 8 December 2022

Question
Andrew Rosindell
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will take steps to provide training for Taiwanese soldiers.

Answer
James Heappey
Conservative

Answered on
15 December 2022

The UK’s longstanding policy on Taiwan has not changed: we have no diplomatic or military 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 Home Office
UIN 105351, tabled on 7 December 2022

Question
Jim Shannon
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to help protect people who have fled from (a) Hong Kong, (b) Taiwan and (c) authoritarian regimes.

Answer
Robert Jenrick
Conservative

Answered on
14 December 2022

On 31 January 2021 the UK Government opened the BN(O) route for BN(O) status holders in Hong Kong. As of 30 September, over 1️4️4️,0️0️0️ visas been granted so far on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route (BN(O)). The route gives them and their eligible family members the opportunity to live, study and work in the UK on a pathway to citizenship. On 30 November 2022 the BN(O) route was expanded to allow the adult children of BN(O) status holders who were born on or after 1 July 1997 and are aged 18 or over the ability to apply to the route independently of their BN(O) parents. They will need to meet all remaining requirements of the route.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 94735, tabled on 23 November 2022

Question
Jack Lopresti
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Secretary of State for Defence’s oral evidence to the International Relations Committee on 1st November, whether it is his Department’s policy to recognise China’s claims of sovereignty over Taiwan.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
5 December 2022

Our longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but shares a vibrant unofficial relationship, based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties. 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.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 69545, tabled on 24 October 2022

Question
Andrew Rosindell
Conservative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of China’s policy towards Taiwan; and if he will make a statement.

Answer
Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Conservative

Answered on
1 November 2022

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. China’s military exercises in response to the visit of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan were de-stabilising, and formed part of a pattern of escalatory Chinese activity, which includes a growing number of military flights near Taiwan. We do not support any activity that risks destabilising the status quo.

 

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
UIN 65771, tabled on 18 October 2022

Question
Jim Shannon
Democratic Unionist Party

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on support for the US sending troops to Taiwan to defend against potential Chinese invasion.

Answer
Leo Docherty
Conservative

Answered on
26 October 2022

The UK’s longstanding policy 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. We are concerned by any activity that risks destabilising the status quo.