by Martin Haffner, Associate Editor (London)
Taiwan’s Presidential Office expressed gratitude to the UK House of Commons for its unanimous decision to reject China’s misrepresentation of international law regarding Taiwan, which seeks to hinder Taiwan’s involvement in global organizations like the UN.
This motion followed a debate on Taiwan’s international status, and the UK is now the fifth legislative body to criticize Beijing’s interpretation of UN Resolution 2758, joining Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, and the EU.
A photo released shows British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaking during the Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The House of Commons emphasized that UN Resolution 2758, adopted on October 25, 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government of China but does not refer to Taiwan and therefore does not assert PRC sovereignty over it or define its political status.
Lawmakers urged the UK government to clarify that international law does not prohibit Taiwan’s participation in organizations like the UN. They also condemned PRC officials’ attempts to distort the resolution to support the “one China” principle and to alter historic documents to refer to Taiwan as “Taiwan, province of China.”
Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, stated that the Taiwanese government and people are deeply appreciative of the UK parliament and government for their ongoing support. She affirmed Taiwan’s commitment to standing alongside its democratic allies in upholding shared values of freedom, democracy, and human rights.
The debate was initiated by Labour Party lawmaker Blair McDougall, a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, who introduced the motion to support the democratic rights of the Taiwanese people.
UK Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West highlighted that the UK remains a strong supporter of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international bodies, including the UN and the World Health Assembly. She called for condemnation of any efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to “rewrite history,” stating that such actions are detrimental to Taiwan, the UK, and the global community.
During the debate, McDougall noted that the diplomatic nuances surrounding Taiwan’s status could have significant global implications, especially given Taiwan’s vital role in the semiconductor industry, shipping routes, and geopolitical dynamics. He warned that the economic impact of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan would affect households across the UK and emphasized the importance of formulating policies to address crises before they arise, citing the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a pertinent example.