UK Defers Taiwanese Ex-President's Visit to Avoid Tension with China Ahead of Lammy’s Trip

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The UK Foreign Office recently requested the postponement of a visit by former Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen to avoid straining diplomatic relations with China. The delay comes just before David Lammy, the UK’s foreign secretary, is scheduled to travel to China for high-level meetings. Lammy's upcoming trip, his first official visit to the country in this role, aims to ease tensions between the UK and China, which had worsened under the previous Conservative government.

 

According to sources familiar with the situation, the British-Taiwanese all-party parliamentary group (APPG) had been planning to host Tsai in the UK parliament this month. However, the Foreign Office intervened, asking for the visit to be postponed. "We got a note from the FCDO via the Taiwanese representative to the UK," one person involved in the discussions said. The message reportedly asked for the event to be deferred, citing the foreign secretary’s planned "goodwill visit" to China, which could be jeopardized by Tsai's presence in the UK at this time.

 

The request is seen as an awkward move for the new Labour government, which is seeking to repair its relationship with Beijing. The postponement of Tsai’s visit raises questions about how the UK balances its diplomatic ties with both China and Taiwan, particularly as Taiwan has been an "important and valued partner" for the UK, according to Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Labour chair of the defence select committee. He added that the government should make it clear to Tsai that she is welcome in the UK, expressing his hope that relations between the two nations would continue to strengthen.

 

While the UK does not officially recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, it maintains an informal relationship. There is also a history of exchanges between the two, including a visit by Labour parliamentarians to Taiwan last April, which included meetings with Tsai. This visit was harshly criticized by China’s London embassy, which called it "serious interference" in China's internal affairs. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has long been vocal about its ambition to bring the island under its control. These tensions have only heightened as Taiwan has resisted China’s claims of sovereignty, reaffirming its own constitution and democratic leadership.

 

Tsai Ing-wen, who has just embarked on a European tour with stops in Prague and Brussels, is expected to visit France as well. Her visit to the UK has now been delayed until spring, despite the fact that parliament does not require government approval for such a visit. However, the APPG had hoped the Foreign Office would facilitate her trip by providing security and other logistical support.

 

Frances D’Souza, a crossbench peer and member of the APPG, voiced her hope to see Tsai in parliament soon, while acknowledging the political sensitivities involved. "Parliament is a democratic forum open to many different voices and views," D'Souza said, emphasizing the importance of welcoming a range of perspectives to the discussion.

 

This diplomatic balancing act comes at a time when the UK is re-evaluating its relationship with China. The Labour government has pledged to conduct a comprehensive audit of this relationship, which is currently underway. At the same time, the government is looking to revive high-level economic dialogue with China, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves planning a visit to the country next year. However, the Labour government has also been clear that while it seeks cooperation with China on issues such as trade and climate change, it remains mindful of the security risks and human rights violations, particularly regarding China's treatment of the Uyghur population, which Lammy has previously condemned as genocide.

 

As Lammy prepares for his visit to China, the UK government will have to continue navigating the delicate diplomatic terrain between maintaining productive relations with Beijing and supporting its informal but significant partnership with Taiwan.

 

Based on a report from The Guardian 2024-10-14