UK minister to visit Taiwan this week

British state and trade minister Greg Hands is set to travel to Taiwan this week and meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, his office said Monday. Hands’ visit to the island marks another high-level engagement between a foreign government and Taipei, which China has objected to.

The British Department for International Trade announced Monday Hands’ upcoming visit to Taiwan this week. The agency said Hands would also co-host the 25th Annual UK-Taiwan trade talks. Hands will also be meeting with Taiwan’s top trade negotiator, John Deng, and Economy minister Wang Mei-Hua during his visit.

“Visiting Taiwan in person is a clear signal of the UK’s commitment to boosting UK-Taiwan trade ties. Like the UK, Taiwan is a champion of free and fair trade underpinned by a rules-based global trading system,” said the department in a statement.

The Taiwanese economy ministry did not comment on Hands’ upcoming visit, saying that the meetings that were arranged were closed to the media.

Taiwan and its democratic government see the United Kingdom as a like-minded partner, and London has raised concerns about the increased military drills China is carrying out near the island. London has also expressed support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, most of which the island is not part of because of China’s objections.

Both the UK and Taiwan are also looking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with its members agreeing back in February that the UK can proceed with its application. While the UK has no formal diplomatic ties with the island nation, the two have close economic and informal relations as well as a de facto British embassy in Taipei.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has been engaging in a pressure campaign on the island’s democratic government to submit to Beijing’s authority. Beijing has also objected to every engagement between Taiwan and a foreign government.

Friday last week, the G7 countries urged China to refrain from “threats, coercion, intimidation, and use of force” in a written communique that also reiterated the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which China also claims as part of its territory.