Liz Truss to warn the West to ‘get real’ about defending Taiwan in ‘global battle for freedom’
Liz Truss to warn West to get ‘real’ about defending Taiwan as part of ‘global struggle for freedom’ with ex-premier claiming only ‘hard power’ will deter Chinese invasion
- The former prime minister will visit Taiwan this week where she will meet top officials
Liz Truss will warn the West to get “real” about defending Taiwan as part of a “global fight for freedom” in a speech that will infuriate China.
The former prime minister will visit Taiwan this week, where she will describe the standoff between the island and Beijing as “the most profound battle of our time.”
Ms. Truss is expected to meet senior members of the Taiwanese government during her trip, while also giving an aggressive speech to a think tank on Wednesday.
She will describe Taiwan as being on the “front line of the global struggle for freedom” and claim that only “hard power” can deter an invasion of the island by China.
But the former prime minister’s planned visit has already been criticized by Beijing, with Tory critics of Ms Truss accusing her of “the worst kind of Instagram diplomacy.”
Speaking to the Prospect Foundation think tank in Taipei on Wednesday, Truss is expected to accuse Chinese President Xi Jinping of waging an “ideological battle with the free world.”
Liz Truss will warn the West to get ‘real’ about defending Taiwan as part of a ‘global fight for freedom’ in a speech that will enrage China
The ex-premier will visit Taiwan this week, where she will describe the standoff between the island and Beijing as “the most profound battle of our time”
Speaking to the Prospect Foundation think tank in Taipei, Ms. Truss is expected to accuse Chinese President Xi Jinping of waging an “ideological battle with the free world.”
According to the Sunday express, the ex-premier will say, ‘I came here this week at the invitation of the Taiwanese government because I am an admirer of Taiwan and the Taiwanese people. I want to do everything I can to support your continued success.
“I want to raise awareness around the world of the position you are in. I’m also here because I believe this is the most profound place in the world – in the most profound battle of our time.’
She also plans to describe Taiwan as “at the frontline of the global struggle for freedom,” adding: “The Chinese Communist Party is engaged in an ideological battle with the free world – they are open about it.
“This is both a battle of ideas and an attempt to seize power on the world stage.”
In late March, Britain successfully completed negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a 12-nation trade bloc.
The newspaper reported that Ms. Truss will call on CPTPP members to push through Taiwan’s own membership application now, but stop China from ever joining.
“Taiwan’s entry would not only boost trade between the UK and Taiwan, which already stands at £8.5 billion, but it would also help create greater economic ties and resilience for this important democracy,” added them to it.
The UK should advocate for fast track of Taiwan’s accession in co-operation with key members.
“It is also vital that China is prevented from ever joining CPTPP.”
Ms. Truss plans to warn Western nations that China cannot be dissuaded from attempting to invade Taiwan without “hard power.”
“We can’t pretend that there can be no meaningful deterrence without hard power,” she will say.
“And if we want to seriously prevent the conflict in the South China Sea, we must seriously work on military and defense cooperation.
“We need a coordinated approach regarding exports that are licensed to be shipped to Taiwan.”
Victor Gao, a media spokesman for the Chinese Communist Party, recently suggested that Ms. Truss’s visit to Taiwan could heighten tensions, claiming it would “further alienate China-Britain relations.”
Meanwhile, senior Tory MP Alicia Kearns – chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee – labeled Ms Truss’ trip as “performative” and “the worst example of Instagram diplomacy”.
“It is very useless because it escalates the normal situation in Taiwan,” Ms Kearns said, highlighting how a recent visit by US politician Nancy Pelosi saw China fire missiles near Taiwan.
“Taiwanese people are already living with more Chinese military maneuvers because of Nancy Pelosi’s visit.
“Liz Truss is out of influence — this is more about keeping herself relevant.”
A spokesperson for Ms Truss responded to the comments, saying: ‘The former Prime Minister has been invited by the Taiwanese government for a visit.
“They are better placed to know what is in the interest of the Taiwanese people than the MP for Rutland.”