China Criticizes British Liz Truss’s Trip To Taiwan As A “Dangerous Political Stunt” Meant To Spark Conflict.

China’s territorial disputes with Taiwan have been a topic of tension in international relations for decades. As a result of this, countries often find themselves in a delicate diplomatic situation when it comes to their relationship with the two entities. However, recently, former UK Prime Minister (PM) Liz Truss found herself at the center of the conflict after visiting Taiwan. The Chinese Embassy was quick to criticize Truss’ visit to Taiwan, stating that it was a violation of China’s sovereignty. 

Since former prime minister Margaret Thatcher’s journey to Taiwan in the 1990s, Truss is the most well-known British politician to have made the trip. Her travel also takes place at a time when ties between Britain and China are at an all-time low.

She is a representative of the hardline Conservative Party faction that opposes the British government’s policy towards China, which aims to participate in trade and combat climate change while minimizing threats to national security.

Truss believes that it would be “completely irresponsible” for European states to claim that the island is too far away or not relevant, in contrast to French President Emmanuel Macron’s attempts to dissociate Europe from any engagement in a battle over Taiwan.

China about Taiwan

China asserts that Taiwan is it’s own and hasn’t given up using force to bring about eventual unification. Beijing has repeatedly denounced the trips to Taiwan made by British legislators as interference in China’s internal affairs.”Our only choice is to act to prevent conflict, not to appease and accommodate.“

According to excerpts from her address, Truss will state that in the face of aggression from a Chinese regime whose record is all too transparent for the world to see, we must back free democracies like Taiwan.

Truss has given speeches to repair her political reputation and put pressure on her successor, Rishi Sunak, to take a harder stance on a variety of topics after being thrown out of power in a record 49 days in October due to unfunded tax cuts that shook the financial markets.

Her visit was attacked by a representative of the Chinese Embassy in London, who described it as a “dangerous political show that will do nothing but harm to the United Kingdom.“

Foreign Minister James Cleverly stated last month that it would be a mistake to isolate Beijing and that interaction is required in areas like climate change in the clearest attempt to describe Britain’s policy to China under Sunak.

Truss states, too many people in the West are still trying to hang onto the notion that they can work with China on topics like climate change. “Without freedom and democracy, there is nothing else.”

It is crucial to explore the reasons why the Chinese embassy criticized Truss’s visit to Taiwan and discuss whether her visit was a violation of China’s sovereignty.

The reason why the Chinese embassy criticize Truss’s visit as a political stunt

Firstly, it is important to establish that China has not recognized Taiwan as a separate state since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. To China, Taiwan remains a renegade province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland. However, Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign state with its government, economy, and military. The international community is divided on the issue, with some recognizing Taiwan as an independent state while others align with China’s position.

Against this backdrop, it is easy to see why Truss’s visit to Taiwan was considered a sensitive issue. The Chinese embassy criticized her visit, stating its a violation of the  One-China policy, which is the country’s commitment to treating Taiwan as a part of its territory. From China’s perspective, Truss’s visit legitimized Taiwan as a separate state and undermined China’s sovereignty. Moreover, the Chinese Embassy accused Truss of jeopardizing the UK-China relationship by ignoring the well-established diplomatic norms and interfering in China’s internal affairs.

In response to the Chinese Embassy’s statements, it is arguable that Truss’s visit to Taiwan was purely private. They say she had every right to visit Taiwan as an individual and meet with Taiwanese officials, given that the UK does not formally recognize Taiwan as a separate state or consider it part of its territory. From this perspective, there is no need for the Chinese embassy to feel threatened or offended by Truss’s trip to Taiwan. 

The UK’s relationship with China has been tumultuous in recent years due to a series of disagreements concerning technology, human rights, and trade. In this light, Truss’s visit to Taiwan may be considered a calculated move by the UK government. But it is important to note that by visiting Taiwan in a private capacity, Truss was sending a message to China that the UK is willing to maintain a friendship with both countries without taking sides instead of an official act. Emphasizing that Truss’s visit will not harm the cordial relationship that currently exists between the two countries.

Truss’s visit to Taiwan did spark controversy, with the Chinese embassy criticizing her actions, stating that they violated China’s sovereignty. However, with close examination, it becomes apparent that Truss did not violate any diplomatic norms, as she visited Taiwan in a private capacity. Furthermore, the argument is made that her visit helped maintain the UK’s reputation for a balanced approach to diplomacy and did not jeopardize the cordial relationship between the UK and China. Ultimately, whether Truss’s trip to Taiwan was a violation of China’s sovereignty remains a matter of defined interpretation and does not necessarily have a correct answer at the very moment.

Proofread & Published By Naveenika Chauhan