Commenting on the visit, Taiwan Policy Centre CEO David Spencer said, “It is fantastic news that former Prime Minister Liz Truss will be visiting Taiwan. Her support for Taiwan’s democracy and the freedoms and self-determination of the 23 million Taiwanese people is hugely welcome and a clear indication of the UK people’s commitment to promoting shared values around the world. After the disappointment of the recent China policy speech by James Cleverly, this visit should leave China in no doubt that the UK supports, and will continue to support, Taiwan and the rights of its people to determine their own future.”

Media coverage of the event can be found here at Order Order and in The Guardian. Regrettably the TPC notices that the Guardian has continued the deeply counter-productive and disrespectful media practice of framing the visit in terms of the likely response from the PRC, despite noting that “[Prospect Foundation] was among groups China imposed sanctions on last month in retaliation for Pelosi’s meeting with the Taiwanese president.”

This will be the first visit of a former UK Prime Minister to Taiwan in living memory and marks an important symbolic moment in the development of closer relations between the two nations.