Chinese Embassy Spokesperson’s Statement on Truss’s Visit to Taiwan: Any Attempt to Make a “Political Show” with the Taiwan Question will End in Failure

Liz Truss, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday evening, commencing what many consider to be a controversial five-day visit. Truss's presence marks the first visit by a former British leader to the country in 27 years, raising concerns among various stakeholders.

Truss, known for her brief and tumultuous 49-day term as Prime Minister, landed at Taoyuan International Airport amidst mixed reactions. While some officials offered a cordial reception, her visit has sparked apprehension and scepticism from numerous quarters.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the UK released a statement on Truss’s visit to Taiwan on Tuesday. The statement said:

British politician Liz Truss’s recent visit to Taiwan is a dangerous political show which will do nothing but harm to the UK. This provocative move has caused strong indignation among the Chinese people and will be firmly rejected by people with conscience from all walks of life.

There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China's territory since ancient times. Taiwan’s return to China is a component of the post-war international order. A series of international documents, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, have clearly defined China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. The one-China principle is a prevailing consensus of the international community and a basic norm of international relations affirmed by the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. This principle is the political foundation and important prerequisite for the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and the UK. Any responsible politician should abide by the one-China principle instead of manipulating state-to-state relations for political gains.

The greatest threat to peace across the Taiwan Strait now is “Taiwan independence” activities and foreign forces’ connivance at and support for them. By playing the “Taiwan card” and engaging in political shows, Truss and the like are colluding with the “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces to provoke confrontation and escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait. What they did has fully revealed their sinister intentions.

The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests. Any violation of the one-China principle will have serious consequences for China-UK relations. We urge the relevant British politician to correct her wrongdoing, stop making political shows with the Taiwan question, and stop conniving at and supporting “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces. Otherwise, she will only further expose herself as a failed politician and get more backlash from the Chinese people.

During her five-day visit, Truss is scheduled to deliver a controversial talk in Taipei titled "Taiwan: On the Frontline of Freedom and Democracy," a move that has drawn criticism for its potentially inflammatory nature. Organized by the government-funded Prospect Foundation, the event has been labelled by some as a platform for spreading a narrative that undermines regional harmony and challenges the established diplomatic norms.

Truss's visit to Taiwan also sparked opposition from members of the Conservative Party. According to the Guardian, the Conservative chair of the foreign affairs select committee had launched a blistering attack on Liz’s trip to Taiwan, calling it “the worst kind of Instagram diplomacy”.

Alicia Kearns said she thought Truss’s trip was little more than a vanity project aimed at maintaining her profile after her brief spell as prime minister last year. Kearns said: “The trip is performative, not substantive. Liz Truss doesn’t have any influence anymore – this is more about keeping herself relevant.”

Some view it as a concerning departure from established diplomatic practices, while others argue it risks damaging the delicate balance of power in the region.

While the British foreign secretary, James Cleverly, stressed that Britain should not “pull the shutters down” on China, arguing that it would only be counterproductive.