Chinese President Xi Jinping (second from right in the front row) put on a military uniform and took a photo with the PLA when he inspected the Central Theater of the People’s Liberation Army.Photo: Xinhua News Agency
Russia’s violation of Ukraine has been condemned by the world, and Russia’s ally China has never given up on attacking Taiwan by force, causing a new wave of international attention to the situation in the Taiwan Strait. The newly established British think tank “Taiwan Policy Centre” said on the 13th that the British government should assist Taiwan in developing asymmetrical combat power, abandon its outdated “strategic ambiguity” policy towards Taiwan, and develop a course of action with Taiwan and its allies as soon as possible. In order to break through the blockade once morest Taiwan that China may seek in the future, and clearly warn China of the price of invading Taiwan.
The Taiwan Policy Center is one of the very few organizations in the UK that focuses on Taiwan-UK relations and aims to promote exchanges and mutual understanding between Taiwan and the UK in various fields. The Taiwan Policy Center released its first report on the 13th, entitled “Ukraine Today, Taiwan Tomorrow?” (Ukraine Today, Taiwan Tomorrow?) analyzed the similarities and differences between Ukraine and Taiwan, and made policy recommendations to the British and Taiwan governments respectively.
The British Parliament held a grand opening ceremony on the 10th, during which the throne delivered a speech declaring that the United Kingdom will play a leading role in defending freedom and democracy around the world; Foreign Secretary Liz Truss (Liz Truss) issued a speech at the Mansion House in London at the end of April. The landmark foreign policy speech also called for ensuring that Taiwan has sufficient self-defense capabilities. The Taiwan Policy Center report pointed out that the British government should take concrete actions to implement the concepts and commitments to assist Taiwan with the armament it needs to develop asymmetric warfare capabilities.
The report continued that the British government’s strategically vague policy towards Taiwan for many years was out of date. The UK should adjust its strategy and coordinate with its allies to make it clear that any attempt to “solve” the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty by blockade or other military means will be regarded as a declaration of war. The UK government should seek to develop a clear strategy in coordination with the US, EU and NATO member states, other allies and Taiwan on how to respond to Taiwan aggression, including early delineation of possible sanctions once morest China .
The report also mentioned that the British government should pass the “Taiwan Relations Act” to bring the Taiwan policy of the United Kingdom and the United States into line. In addition, the British government should adjust its policy to increase the level and frequency of visits by cabinet officials to Taiwan, and to allow officials from all levels of the Taiwanese executive branch to visit the United Kingdom. The Taiwan Policy Center believes that the United Kingdom should take more active political and diplomatic actions to deter Chinese military aggression once morest Taiwan and ensure that a free and democratic Taiwan can meaningfully participate in international organizations such as the United Nations or other forms of alliances.
In his foreword to the report, former health official and MP for the House of Lords, James Bethell, stressed that what happened to Ukraine showed that the firm and clear support and stance of allies was important to deter aggression. It is in the UK’s national interest to develop a closer relationship with Taiwan; the UK must also make it clear to the leadership of the People’s Republic of China that aggression once morest Taiwan will cause significant and long-term damage to China, both economically and militarily.
