China threatened to cancel high-level trade talks with the UK earlier this year after a government minister visited Taiwan, the Guardian has learned. Beijing told the British government it would pull the first UK-China trade and economic dialogue in seven years following Douglas Alexander's trip to Taipei in late June.
Alexander, then a trade minister and now Secretary of State for Scotland, visited Taiwan on 29 and 30 June, meeting President Lai Ching-te and his counterpart Cynthia Kiang. He pledged to boost trade in key sectors. The visit received little media attention in the UK but prompted a strong reaction from China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province.
Diplomats scrambled to contain the fallout, and the UK-China trade and economic commission (Jetco) ultimately went ahead in early September. Business Secretary Peter Kyle flew to China for the talks, which are expected to secure £1bn in market access deals for the UK over five years. It was the first such dialogue since 2018.
The UK does not recognise Taiwan as a country but maintains an unofficial relationship, including ministerial talks since 1991. Bilateral trade between the UK and Taiwan was worth £9.3bn last year. The government said the visit was within the longstanding bounds of the relationship.
Meanwhile, ministers face pressure over diplomatic rapprochement with Beijing. The government is preparing to approve a Chinese super-embassy near Tower Bridge, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to visit Beijing in late January. Critics cite security risks, but Downing Street argues consolidating diplomatic presence will enhance security.
