**‘Taiwan possesses all the qualifications for statehood,’ a parliamentary committee report says.**
The British parliament has for the first time referred to Taiwan as an “independent country” in an official document, breaking a political taboo as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits China this week.
The new language, adopted in a report published Wednesday by the influential foreign affairs committee of the House of Commons, risks a stinging backlash from Beijing and comes as Cleverly becomes the first top British envoy to visit Beijing in five years amid a frosty relationship.
Beijing has long denied Taiwan’s statehood, insisting the self-governing democratic island is part of its territory. Only 13 countries around the world recognize Taipei instead of Beijing diplomatically.
“Taiwan is already an independent country, under the name Republic of China,” the committee report says. “Taiwan possesses all the qualifications for statehood, including a permanent population, a defined territory, government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states — it is only lacking greater international recognition.”
According to Committee Chairperson Alicia Kearns, from the ruling Conservative Party, it’s the first time a U.K. parliament report is making such a declaration. “We acknowledge China’s position, but we as [the foreign affairs committee] do not accept it,” Kearns told POLITICO. “It is imperative the foreign secretary steadfastly and vocally stand by Taiwan and make clear we will uphold Taiwan’s right to self-determination.”
“This commitment aligns not only with British values but also serves as a poignant message to autocratic regimes worldwide that sovereignty cannot be attained through violence or coercion,” Kearns added.
In response to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin criticized it for “reversing right and wrong and confusing black and white.”
“China urges the British parliament to adhere to the ‘one China’ principle … and stop sending the wrong signals to pro-independence Taiwanese secessionist forces,” Wang said.
The Taiwanese foreign ministry, on the other hand, thanked Westminster for issuing the report.
“We are grateful [for] the British parliament’s support for Taiwan’s status and international participation,” a ministry spokesperson told the media.
The committee report criticized the government for not being bold enough in supporting Taiwan, calling on officials to start preparing sanctions with allies in order to deter Beijing’s military action and economic blockade over the island that supplies 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductors.
Good.
This idea that if we just placate the totalitarian countries then everything will be fine doesn’t work. We tried this with Russia already.
The CCP must find it strange because they have spent decades getting used to making threats over and over while watching the majority of the world cave in response. Then, in a matter of years, everything abruptly ceases to function as a result of Covid’s sudden and radical change, Chinese lockdowns, and Russia’s invasion. When they suddenly issue dire warnings, the West simply shrugs and says, “Well, that’s still how it is.”
It is. But sadly, as China continues to grow stronger economically and militarily, the pressure to maintain a fiction will only increase. I predict that the CCP is closely observing the West’s stance on Ukraine.
All European nations voted to expel Taiwan from the UN, with the exception of Germany and Switzerland (non members), Spain, Cyprus, and Greece (abstention). I can sympathize somewhat because it was a dictatorship, but we continue to pay for the mistake of appeasing China at the time.
During my week in Taipei I found the people lovely (and funny!) and the food wonderful.
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Article:
**‘Taiwan possesses all the qualifications for statehood,’ a parliamentary committee report says.**
The British parliament has for the first time referred to Taiwan as an “independent country” in an official document, breaking a political taboo as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits China this week.
The new language, adopted in a report published Wednesday by the influential foreign affairs committee of the House of Commons, risks a stinging backlash from Beijing and comes as Cleverly becomes the first top British envoy to visit Beijing in five years amid a frosty relationship.
Beijing has long denied Taiwan’s statehood, insisting the self-governing democratic island is part of its territory. Only 13 countries around the world recognize Taipei instead of Beijing diplomatically.
“Taiwan is already an independent country, under the name Republic of China,” the committee report says. “Taiwan possesses all the qualifications for statehood, including a permanent population, a defined territory, government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states — it is only lacking greater international recognition.”
According to Committee Chairperson Alicia Kearns, from the ruling Conservative Party, it’s the first time a U.K. parliament report is making such a declaration. “We acknowledge China’s position, but we as [the foreign affairs committee] do not accept it,” Kearns told POLITICO. “It is imperative the foreign secretary steadfastly and vocally stand by Taiwan and make clear we will uphold Taiwan’s right to self-determination.”
“This commitment aligns not only with British values but also serves as a poignant message to autocratic regimes worldwide that sovereignty cannot be attained through violence or coercion,” Kearns added.
In response to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin criticized it for “reversing right and wrong and confusing black and white.”
“China urges the British parliament to adhere to the ‘one China’ principle … and stop sending the wrong signals to pro-independence Taiwanese secessionist forces,” Wang said.
The Taiwanese foreign ministry, on the other hand, thanked Westminster for issuing the report.
“We are grateful [for] the British parliament’s support for Taiwan’s status and international participation,” a ministry spokesperson told the media.
The committee report criticized the government for not being bold enough in supporting Taiwan, calling on officials to start preparing sanctions with allies in order to deter Beijing’s military action and economic blockade over the island that supplies 90 percent of the world’s most advanced semiconductors.
Good.
This idea that if we just placate the totalitarian countries then everything will be fine doesn’t work. We tried this with Russia already.
The CCP must find it strange because they have spent decades getting used to making threats over and over while watching the majority of the world cave in response. Then, in a matter of years, everything abruptly ceases to function as a result of Covid’s sudden and radical change, Chinese lockdowns, and Russia’s invasion. When they suddenly issue dire warnings, the West simply shrugs and says, “Well, that’s still how it is.”
I’m curious as to how they’ll adjust to this.
We all know what would happen if they also refer to Palestine as a “independent country” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-palestinians-un-idUSKBN0K81CR20141231
It is. But sadly, as China continues to grow stronger economically and militarily, the pressure to maintain a fiction will only increase. I predict that the CCP is closely observing the West’s stance on Ukraine.
All European nations voted to expel Taiwan from the UN, with the exception of Germany and Switzerland (non members), Spain, Cyprus, and Greece (abstention). I can sympathize somewhat because it was a dictatorship, but we continue to pay for the mistake of appeasing China at the time.
During my week in Taipei I found the people lovely (and funny!) and the food wonderful.
I hope for the best for a Taiwan!
[ThatsBait.gif](https://media.tenor.com/mHSEkbUrvksAAAAC/bait.gif)
Says that but not recognizes Taiwan