Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 49
49
Rejected
Paragraph: 165
UK's "One China" policy requires better understanding across Whitehall for appropriate Taiwan engagement.
Conclusion
[The UK’s “One China” policy is not the same as China’s “One China” principle. Rather than agreeing to China’s claim to Taiwan, the UK, like other liberal democracies, merely acknowledges Beijing’s position.] This policy of acknowledgment needs to be better understood across Whitehall departments to prevent policymakers from misspeaking or acting over-cautiously when it comes to interacting with Taiwan and Taiwanese officials. As part of this, the importance of the Taiwan strait, as a safeguard, should be understood.
Government Response Summary
The government explicitly disagrees with the recommendation, stating it does not intend to publish an additional China Strategy, as its approach is already outlined in the Integrated Review Refresh and the former Foreign Secretary’s Mansion House Speech.
Paragraph Reference:
165
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
51. The Government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. HMG clearly set out its approach to China in the Integrated Review Refresh: protecting our national security, aligning with our allies and partners and engaging with China where it is in UK interests to do so. The former Foreign Secretary’s Mansion House Speech in April built on this, making clear that we will always put British national interests and British national security first in our engagement with China. As such, the Government does not intend to publish an additional China Strategy and we have not committed to do so. We will continue to maintain as much transparency as possible and keep Parliament informed of our approach towards China, while recognising it is not in UK interests to make every element of the strategy public.