In a bold move that risks straining UK-China relations, former British Prime Minister Liz Truss will champion Taiwan's democratic sovereignty and criticize Western appeasement of China in a speech during her visit to the self-governed island.
Truss, the highest-profile British politician to visit Taiwan since Margaret Thatcher in the 90s, is known for her hawkish stance within the Conservative Party. She advocates for a more confrontational approach towards China, challenging the UK government's current strategy of engaging with Beijing in areas like trade and climate change while managing national security threats.
Contrary to French President Emmanuel Macron's stance to distance Europe from potential conflicts involving Taiwan, Truss argues that it would be "completely irresponsible" for European nations to dismiss the island's strategic importance or geographic distance.
China, which regards Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out forceful unification, has criticized such visits by British officials as meddling in its internal affairs.
In her speech, Truss plans to express her unwavering support for "free democracies like Taiwan" against the aggression of China, whose track record she believes is apparent to the world. She will stress the choice between "appeasement and accommodation" or proactive conflict prevention.
Truss's political career has been marked by her bold stance on several issues, even after her abrupt exit from the prime minister's office last October due to controversial tax cuts. She has been vocal in her attempts to influence her successor, Rishi Sunak, to adopt a more assertive stance on various issues.
Her visit to Taiwan and the anticipated speech drew criticism from the Chinese Embassy in London, which labeled it a "dangerous political show" that would only harm the UK.
However, Truss's position starkly contrasts with that of Foreign Minister James Cleverly, who outlined Britain's approach to China last month. Cleverly warned against isolating Beijing and stressed the importance of engaging with China on issues such as climate change.
Truss will dispute this stance in her speech, highlighting the importance of freedom and democracy above all else. "Without freedom and democracy, there is nothing else," she will state, challenging Western nations' hopes of cooperation with China on issues like climate change.
