UK agency on the issue of Taiwan

The United Kingdom's role in the stability of the Taiwan flashpoint merits closer attention than it is typically afforded. The UK has global commitments to uphold the international rules-based order, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which raises expectations that it would act to oppose China's use of force or coercion to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

The UK is also focusing more attention and resources on the Indo-Pacific, as outlined in recent government reviews of its foreign and defense policies, which expand options for UK policymakers to contribute to regional stability. While the UK is sometimes regarded as a great power, it would not act unilaterally over Taiwan's status or security as China or the United States could. Therefore, the UK's level of agency is closer to the regional "middle" powers considered in this roundtable.

This essay first assesses the trajectory of UK policy toward Taiwan and China. It then considers the diplomatic, economic, and military choices available to British policymakers now and in the event of a crisis or war across the Taiwan Strait.