Former UK Prime Minister Truss Visits Taiwan... China Calls Her an "Outdated Politician"

Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, who visited Taiwan, is giving a speech titled "Taiwan: On the Frontline of Freedom and Democracy" in Taipei on the 17th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss visited Taiwan on the 16th. It is the first visit by a former British prime minister in 27 years. Chinese authorities criticized Truss as an "outdated politician."

According to Taiwan Central News Agency, Truss, a former prime minister and current member of parliament, arrived at Taoyuan Airport on the evening of the 16th and was greeted by Wu Chao-hsieh, Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, beginning a five-day visit.

On the 17th, former Prime Minister Truss gave a speech in Taipei titled "Taiwan: On the Frontline of Freedom and Democracy" and reportedly met with senior Taiwanese government officials as well as figures from politics, business, and academia.

Truss is the first former British prime minister to visit Taiwan in 27 years since Margaret Thatcher visited in 1992 and 1996 after her retirement.

In a speech at the Prospect Foundation in Taipei that day, she stated, "We must do everything we can to support free democracies like Taiwan that face aggression from China," and pointed out, "China seeks to use its global economic power to gain dominance and secure the largest military strength."

Truss caused turmoil in global financial markets with a large-scale tax cut plan announced shortly after taking office in September last year and was ousted after 49 days.

There are analyses that this visit to Taiwan could further worsen the relationship between the UK and China.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called Truss an "outdated politician" (過氣政客) during a regular briefing that day, emphasizing, "Her attempt to show presence on the Taiwan issue is for personal political gain."

The Chinese Embassy in the UK also issued a spokesperson statement on its website on the 16th (local time), calling it a "dangerous political show" and criticizing that it will "only harm the UK."

The Global Times, affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper People's Daily, stated in an editorial that day, "The UK government claims it is a personal trip by a non-governmental figure, but considering Truss's special status as a former prime minister and current member of parliament, the UK government cannot clearly distance itself," adding, "They must bear the consequences together."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.