UK’s Sunak Keeps Option of Sending Arms to Taiwan on the Table

(Bloomberg) -- UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to rule out sending arms to Taiwan as his government reviews its foreign, defense and security policy.

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“We stand ready to support Taiwan, as we do in standing up to Chinese aggression,” Sunak told reporters traveling with him to the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. Asked if sending arms is the correct approach, Sunak replied: “We’re considering all these things” as part of the so-called integrated review.

Sunak also confirmed his approach to China is likely to differ from that of his predecessor, Liz Truss. Bloomberg reported this month that Truss had planned to take a tougher line, whereas Sunak’s government is unlikely to go much beyond the condemnation of Beijing’s human rights records and emphasizing the UK view of the Indo-Pacific as a region of strategic concern.

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Sunak’s foreign policy special adviser, John Bew, is updating the Boris Johnson-era integrated security, defense and foreign policy review from 2021 and is expected to report by the end of the year.

“My view is that China poses a systemic challenge to our values and interests and it represents the biggest state-based threat to our economic security,” Sunak said. Speaking later on his arrival in Bali, Sunak said he is hoping to have a chance to talk to President Xi Jinping.

This month, Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands headed to Taiwan for the first in-person trade talks since the pandemic. He said that given its advanced, high-tech economy, Taiwan is an important trading partner for the UK.

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