QUESTIONS
House of Lords | Written Question | Asked by :
Baroness D'Souza (C-B)
Question :
To ask His Majesty’s Government, following the reported recent visit of the Chief of Defence Staff to China, whether they will place minutes of meetings held with his Chinese counterparts in the Library of the...
Answer :
The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish readouts after individual bilateral meetings. The Chief of the Defence Staff met with General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, and they discussed a range of security issues reflecting the importance of military-to-military communications.
We have a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issues one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.
HL6638
House of Lords | Written Question | Asked by :
Baroness D'Souza (C-B)
Baroness D'Souza (C-B)
To ask His Majesty’s Government, following the reported recent visit of the Chief of Defence Staff to China, whether they will place minutes of meetings held with his Chinese counterparts in the Library of the House; and what assessment they have made of the impact of prospective Sino-British military cooperation on cross-Taiwan Strait stability?
Answer by :
Lord Coaker (LAB)
Answer :
The Ministry of Defence does not routinely publish readouts after individual bilateral meetings. The Chief of the Defence Staff met with General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, and they discussed a range of security issues reflecting the importance of military-to-military communications.
We have a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issues one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.
Tabled on :
29th April 2025
Question for :
Ministry of Defence
Topic :
China: Visits Abroad
HL6638
Tabled on :
29th April 2025
Question for :
Ministry of Defence
Topic :
China: Visits Abroad
DEBATES
House of Lords | Debates | Moved by :
Question :
Answer :
United Kingdom: Global Position
Vol. - 844
House of Lords | Debates | Moved by :
Lord Purvis of Tweed (LIB DEM)
Lord Purvis of Tweed (LIB DEM)
Motion / Question :
I want to raise Taiwan and some others, and I hope the House will allow me to be partisan for a second. Taiwan, Ukraine and now Canada all have Governments that are our sister parties. There are Liberals on the front line of the challenges of this new, unsettling world order. Fascinating discussions I have had with my parliamentary colleagues in all three of those governing parties have inspired me, and this is where I want to close.
Minister's Response :
As Homer Simpson would no doubt agree, we are at a crossroads in history. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Sherbourne, for that reference. We have had everything from Lenin to Nancy Pelosi to “The Simpsons”—I think that speaks well of this debate.
United Kingdom: Global Position
House of Lords | Debates | Moved by :
Lord Purvis of Tweed (LIB DEM)
Motion / Question :
I want to raise Taiwan and some others, and I hope the House will allow me to be partisan for a second. Taiwan, Ukraine and now Canada all have Governments that are our sister parties. There are Liberals on the front line of the challenges of this new, unsettling world order. Fascinating discussions I have had with my parliamentary colleagues in all three of those governing parties have inspired me, and this is where I want to close.
Download text of the debate :
DownloadMinister attending :
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
(Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)
Debate Time :
Get the text of the debate :
DownloadMinister attending :
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
(Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)
IN COMMITTEE
Question :
Answer :
Foreign Affairs Committee
Arms Exports To Taiwan
House of Commons | In Committee | Chaired by :
Alicia Kearns MP (CON)
Alicia Kearns MP (CON)
Excerpt :
The UK’s approach to export licensing for Taiwan has not changed. The UK operates one of the most transparent export licensing systems in the world, publishing quarterly and annual statistics on all our export licensing decisions, including details of export licences granted, refused and revoked, including those to Taiwan. Quarterly statistics published by the Export Control Joint Unit earlier in the year show that the UK has not ceased issuing arms export licences to Taiwan. All applications are considered on a case by case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. Licences for exports of controlled goods will only be granted where consistent with the Criteria. The UK’s longstanding policy on Taiwan has not changed: we have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong, unofficial relationship, based on dynamic commercial, educational and cultural ties.
Relevant person :
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly MP (CON)
Committee Sat :
Relevant person :
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly MP (CON)
Committee Sat :
GOVERNMENT STATEMENTS
Question :
Answer :
United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy Programme
UK Government | Statement by :
Jonathan Reynolds MP (LAB)
Jonathan Reynolds MP (LAB)
Excerpt :
The Secretary of State has today appointed 32 Parliamentarians covering 79 markets to the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy programme.
The United Kingdom’s Trade Envoys will play an integral role in the Government’s growth mission and delivering our Plan for Change by helping to create opportunities for UK business to compete abroad, break into new markets and attract greater inward investment from their markets.
They will play a crucial role in supporting my Department’s growth priorities, in particular through helping deliver the industrial and trade strategies and attracting foreign direct investment to every region in the UK. They complement the work of our Ambassadors, High Commissioners and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioners in their respective markets by engaging with their host governments, leading trade delegations, hosting inward delegations, meeting businesses in the UK and in market and lobbying on market access issues.
The role as a United Kingdom Trade Envoy is unpaid and voluntary with cross-party membership from both Houses.
The Secretary of State is pleased to appoint: [abbreviated list]
The Rt Hon Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Richard Faulkner) as the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Taiwan
Location :
UIN HCWS392
Speaker's Title :
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Presiding Government :
Starmer (Labour)
Presiding Government :
Starmer (Labour)
Speaker's Title :
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Location :
UIN HCWS392
AGREEMENTS & ARRANGEMENTS
Question :
Answer :
Memorandum of Understanding on expanding cooperation in satellite assembly and technical training
Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of Understanding
Purpose of Agreement :
A five-year deal on Tuesday to expand cooperation in satellite assembly and technical training
Signed? (UK) :
Ruth Bradley-Jones, Representative at the British Office Taipei, on behalf of the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult
Signed? (TW) :
Wu Tsung-hsin (吳宗信), Director of Taiwan Space Agency
Presiding Government :
Starmer (Labour)
Presiding Government :
Starmer (Labour)
Signed? (UK) :
Ruth Bradley-Jones, Representative at the British Office Taipei, on behalf of the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult
Signed? (TW) :
Wu Tsung-hsin (吳宗信), Director of Taiwan Space Agency
