Since Keir Starmer took office, Britain’s approach to Taiwan seems to have changed little from that of the previous Tory government – but is that really the case? Beneath the surface, there are worrying signs that Starmer’s government wants to dodge discussing the potential flashpoint of Taiwan’s sovereignty, lest it disrupt their attempt to reset relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
The previous government, in the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh, committed the United Kingdom to supporting stability across the strait. Rishi Sunak, when asked about arms sales to the island, was unequivocal: ‘We stand ready to support Taiwan’. Starmer’s government appears to have followed suit: as per the Foreign Office statement following last month’s Chinese military drills, Keir Starmer’s government continues to maintain that cross-strait differences be settled ‘without the threat or use of force or coercion’. Under Labour, the UK and Taiwan will also, no doubt, continue to enjoy fruitful bilateral exchanges (indeed, earlier this month, the two countries began a fresh round of trade talks).
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