# British minister to meet Taiwan president, drawing China’s anger Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-11-07 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: UK Minister Visits Taiwan for Trade Talks Amid Beijing Anger Meta Description: Joining President Tsai Ing-wen for meetings, UK's trade minister signals commitment to boosting UK-Taiwan trade ties amidst Chinese objections. URL: https://financedigest.com/british-minister-to-meet-taiwan-president-drawing-chinas-angerhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-11-07t082258z2lynxmpeia600hrtroptp4britain-politics-1736814906618-compressed.jpg) TAIPEI (Reuters) – A British minister will visit Taiwan this week for trade talks and meet President Tsai Ing-wen, his office said on Monday, drawing an angry reaction from Beijing to the latest high-level engagement between a Western government and the island. China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and strongly objects to any official interactions between Taipei and foreign governments, believing it is a show of support for Taiwan’s separateness from China. Britain’s Department for International Trade said Greg Hands, minister of state for trade and also a member of parliament, would meet Tsai and co-host the 25th annual UK-Taiwan Trade Talks during his two-day visit. Visiting Taiwan in person is a clear signal of the UK’s commitment to [boosting UK-Taiwan trade](https://www.financedigest.com/santander-signs-a-new-agreement-with-yes-bank-to-boost-uk-india-trade-and-local-business-networking-opportunities.html "Santander Signs A New Agreement With Yes Bank To Boost Uk-India Trade And Local Business Networking Opportunities") ties. Like the UK, Taiwan is a champion of free and fair trade underpinned by a rules-based [global trading system,” his office](https://www.financedigest.com/black-panther-sequel-ignites-box-office-with-330-million-global-debut.html "‘Black Panther’ sequel ignites box office with 0 million global debut") said in a statement. [Speaking in Beijing](https://www.financedigest.com/in-beijing-spanish-pm-urges-xi-to-speak-with-ukraines-zelenskiy.html "In Beijing, Spanish PM urges Xi to speak with Ukraine’s Zelenskiy"), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China resolutely opposed any form of official exchanges between a country with whom it has diplomatic ties and Taiwan. “We urge the British side to stop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan and stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence,” he said. Hands will also meet Taiwan’s top trade negotiator John Deng and Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua, his office added. Taiwan’s Economy Ministry declined to comment, saying that the [meetings it was arranging were closed](https://www.financedigest.com/banking-stability-worries-go-behind-closed-doors-at-imf-world-bank-meetings.html "Banking stability worries go behind closed doors at IMF-World Bank meetings") to the media. Taiwan views Britain as a like-minded democratic partner and has been heartened by London’s [concerns over recent Chinese war games near](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-near-flat-as-us-crude-stock-draw-contends-with-economic-concerns.html "Oil near flat as US crude stock draw contends with economic concerns") the island and support for its participation in international organisations, most of which Taiwan are locked out of due to China’s objections. Britain, like Taiwan, is also bidding to join the [Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-announces-agreement-to-acquire-risk-management-firm-creating-a-comprehensive-cyber-risk-management-advisory-group.html "Aon announces agreement to acquire risk management firm, creating a comprehensive cyber risk management advisory group") for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP. Members agreed in February that Britain can proceed with its application, as it looks for new [trading relationships](https://www.financedigest.com/tips-for-establishing-strong-trade-relationships-overseas.html "Tips for establishing strong trade relationships overseas") after leaving the European Union. China has applied to join as well. Britain has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but the two have [close](https://www.financedigest.com/greece-britain-discussing-parthenon-sculptures-return-but-deal-not-close-athens-says.html "Greece, Britain discussing Parthenon Sculptures return but deal not close, Athens says") economic and informal relations and Britain maintains a de facto embassy in Taipei. Western lawmakers and other officials have been stepping up their visits to Taiwan, despite Beijing’s strong objections, which [views the island as its own territory and bristles at anything which implies it is a separate country](https://www.financedigest.com/forest-view-homes-minutes-from-the-heart-of-constable-country.html "Forest View – Homes Minutes From The Heart Of Constable Country"). [China staged war games](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-sharply-scales-back-far-east-war-games-with-china.html "Russia sharply scales back Far East war games with China") near Taiwan in August following a visit to Taipei by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Eduardo Baptista in Beijing; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Toby Chopra) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---