UK Defence Secretary clarifies comments on Taiwan and China

The Taiwan Policy Centre was delighted to be able to attend the 111th Taiwan National Day celebrations in the Gladstone Library of the National Liberal Club in Westminster.

It was a packed event as members of the Taiwan diaspora in the UK came together with friends of Taiwan from all areas of UK life to celebrate Taiwan’s upcoming National Day on 10th October, and enjoy various Taiwanese foods, bubble tea, and culture.

Corrected oral evidence: Defence concepts and capabilities: from aspiration to reality | In Committee : 1st November 2022

Bob Stewart: From the point of view of the security of Taiwan and of the South China sea, the Government are obviously worried about that, as they sent a fleet there and an aircraft carrier through, but we still haven’t got the—am I allowed to use the word?—balls to actually put our aircraft carrier west-about Taiwan rather than east-about. The aircraft carrier went east-about to avoid offending the Chinese, because east-about is in the Taiwan straits. We as a Parliament should demonstrate solidarity with Taiwan.