Liz Truss will go to Taiwan subsequent week to provide a speech about democracy within the face of “increasingly aggressive behaviour from China”.
The former prime minister will ship a keynote speech to a thinktank to point out “solidarity” with Taiwan because it faces an growing risk from China, her spokesman stated.
She can also be anticipated to satisfy senior Taiwanese authorities officers through the journey.
Ms Truss, who was additionally international secretary underneath Boris Johnson, has been giving speeches around the globe with a give attention to standing as much as China since she resigned as prime minister final October after simply 44 days.
Ahead of her go to subsequent week, she stated: “Taiwan is a beacon of freedom and democracy.
“I’m looking forward to showing solidarity with the Taiwanese people in person in the face of increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from the regime in Beijing.”
In latest months, Ms Truss has given a speech about China to Japan’s parliament and to the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC, the place she known as on Western democracies to toughen their stance on China.
Two days earlier than her Taiwan go to she’s going to converse on the Copenhagen Democracy Summit the place she’s going to discuss an “economic NATO” the place like-minded nations comply with make commerce and funding selections to help freedom.
Ms Truss’ short-lived premiership contributed to bringing relations between the UK and China to a low level however her successor Rishi Sunak has been attempting to interact with China the place potential.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated he “made plain” the UK’s views on points together with Taiwan throughout a gathering with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday.
Some MPs, together with Tories, condemned Mr Han’s invitation to attend the King’s coronation over the weekend and Mr Cleverly’s deliberate go to to China this yr.
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Visits by Western politicians to Taiwan have develop into extra fractious as China ramps up its rhetoric and shows of navy energy in opposition to Taiwan.
Last yr, then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s go to to the island was condemned by Beijing, who started navy workout routines round Taiwan shortly after she landed.
An extended-time critic of Beijing’s regime, Ms Pelosi met a former pupil chief of the Tiananmen Square protest, a dissident Hong Kong bookseller and a Taiwanese activist who was imprisoned in China.
Beijing known as the go to a “provocation” by the US and warned President Joe Biden to abide by the One China precept, including “those who play with fire will perish by it”.
The Foreign Office is “aware and abreast” of Ms Truss’ Taiwan go to, her crew stated, however the division will not be accountable for approving abroad visits by MPs.
Source: information.sky.com”