- Greg Hands, UK minister of state for trade, said he will visit Taiwan this week for trade talks, along with meeting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen
- The visit will be the latest high-level meeting between a Western government and Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory
- During his two-day visit, Hands, a member of the UK parliament, will meet Tsai and co-host the 25th annual UK-Taiwan Trade Talks
LONDON, England: Greg Hands, UK minister of state for trade, said he will visit Taiwan this week for trade talks, along with meeting Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
The visit will be the latest high-level meeting between a Western government and Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.
During his two-day visit, Hands, a member of the UK parliament, will meet Tsai and co-host the 25th annual UK-Taiwan Trade Talks.
“Visiting Taiwan in person is a clear signal of the UK’s commitment to boosting UK-Taiwan trade ties. Like the UK, Taiwan is a champion of free and fair trade underpinned by a rules-based global trading system,” Hands said in a statement.
Hands will also meet Taiwan’s top trade negotiator John Deng and Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua, the office added.
Taiwanese officials have been heartened by London’s concerns over recent Chinese war games near its territory and support for its participation in international organizations, which Taiwan has been locked out of due to China’s objections.
Both the UK and Taiwan, as well as China, aim to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
While the UK and Taiwan have no formal diplomatic ties, they have close economic and informal relations, and London has a de facto embassy in Taipei.
Despite Beijing’s strong objections, Western lawmakers and other officials have been stepping up their visits to the island.
Following a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, China staged war games near Taiwan in August.
