British junior trade minister Douglas Alexander is visiting Taiwan for trade talks, a move that could strain relations with China despite efforts to improve ties.
British junior trade minister Douglas Alexander is holding talks in Taiwan on Sunday, as part of a trip aimed at boosting trade with the island, which China claims as its territory.
The UK government confirmed the visit, saying Alexander will be in Taiwan for annual trade talks on June 29-30. His agenda includes witnessing the signing of UK-Taiwan trade partnership pillars and meeting with the island’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader Lai Ching-te as part of what London described as its “long-standing unofficial relationship” with Taipei.
China strongly opposes any official interactions between Taiwan and foreign governments, viewing them as support for Taiwan’s desire for greater international recognition. Beijing has urged countries to abide by the one-China principle and avoid formal exchanges with Taiwanese officials.
Britain does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but maintains a de facto embassy in Taipei. By convention, junior British ministers hold talks with DPP authorities, while senior ministers avoid official meetings.
Alexander highlighted the economic opportunities in a statement: “We share a long-standing trade relationship with Taiwan and our trade reached an all-time high last year, but we know there are still more opportunities for British businesses.”
The visit comes as Britain and China seek to repair ties. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to visit Beijing later this year, marking the first trip by a UK leader since 2018.
However, tensions remain. Last week, China’s military criticised the sailing of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait, describing it as a deliberate attempt to “cause trouble.”
U.S. border chief Tom Homan said on Thursday (12 February) a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota will end after months of raids that led to mor...
Belgian police searched multiple European Commission offices in Brussels on Thursday as part of an investigation into the 2024 sale of EU-owned buildi...
Russia’s car market is continuing to receive tens of thousands of foreign-brand vehicles via China despite sanctions imposed after Moscow’s full-s...
Azerbaijan’s State Security Service has filed charges against a group of people accused of belonging to a criminal network alleged to have attempted...
Norwegian police searched the homes of former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland on Thursday (12 February) as part of an ongoing investigation into all...
Russia’s car market is continuing to receive tens of thousands of foreign-brand vehicles via China despite sanctions imposed after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a journalistic investigation has found.
China has unveiled a redesigned version of its state-backed digital currency, marking the latest step in the country’s long-running effort to modernise how money moves through its economy.
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
China became Brazil’s largest source of imported vehicles in January, overtaking long-time leader Argentina in a shift that underscores Beijing’s rapidly expanding influence in one of Latin America’s biggest auto markets.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara on Wednesday, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, marking the start of high-level talks between the two NATO allies.
A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader said on Tuesday that negotiations with the United States must remain focused on the nuclear issue and be grounded in realism, as Washington and Tehran prepare to resume talks mediated by Oman.
James Van Der Beek, who rose to fame as Dawson Leery in the hit teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died aged 48 following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said a bridge project linking Canada’s Ontario province with the U.S. state of Michigan would contribute to cooperation between the two countries.
The suspect in a deadly school shooting in western Canada was an 18-year-old woman who allegedly killed her mother and stepbrother before attacking her former school. Investigators have not provided a motive for what is being described as one of the worst mass killings in Canada.
U.S. border chief Tom Homan said on Thursday (12 February) a federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota will end after months of raids that led to more than 4,000 arrests, mass protests and two fatal shootings.
Norwegian police searched the homes of former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland on Thursday (12 February) as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged ties between prominent Norwegians and the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, authorities and media reports said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has chosen his teenage daughter as his successor, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday.
Belgian police searched multiple European Commission offices in Brussels on Thursday as part of an investigation into the 2024 sale of EU-owned buildings to the Belgian state.
Polls have close in Bangladesh's first general election since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s political transition. Turnout reached 47.91% by early afternoon, according to partial data from election authorities.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment