In a speech set to infuriate China, former Prime Minister of Taiwan, Liz Truss, will warn the West to "get real" about defending Taiwan as part of a "global battle for freedom." Scheduled to deliver a hawkish speech at a thinktank on Wednesday, she will accuse Chinese President Xi Jinping of waging an "ideological struggle with the free world" and claim that only "hard power" can deter an invasion of the island by China.
However, her planned visit to Taiwan has already faced criticism from Beijing and some Tory critics. Senior Tory MP Alicia Kearns labeled Ms. Truss's trip as 'performative' and 'unhelpful,' escalating the situation in Taiwan instead of resolving it.
Senior Conservatives have warned that this upcoming trip could potentially undermine Rishi Sunak on the world stage. Despite these concerns, Ms. Truss is expected to urge Western countries to strengthen their military and defense cooperation efforts in order to avoid conflict in the South China Sea region.
Former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind expressed his concern over potential backlash from China: “The trip would trigger a very adverse hostile reaction from the Chinese.” Meanwhile, former Tory Prime Minister Sir Andrew Lloyd Lloyd MP accused those criticising Ms. Truss's visit of playing into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Adding fuel to this debate was Tom Tugendhat MP, Conservative chair of the foreign affairs select committee who attacked Liz Truss's planned visit as “the worst kind of Instagram diplomacy.”
As tensions continue rising between Taipei and Beijing amidst ongoing disputes related to sovereignty claims over Taiwan Strait territories, it remains critical for both sides—and international stakeholders—to seek peaceful resolutions through diplomatic channels rather than engaging in provocative acts or rhetoric that may escalate conflicts further.