Rishi Sunak says UK could send weapons to Taiwan

The prime minister has refused to rule out sending arms to Taipei as the government updates its integrated security, defence and foreign policy

Sunak added he is hoping to have a chance to talk to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Bali

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Published: 5:57pm, 15 Nov 2022Updated: 6:05pm, 15 Nov 2022

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to rule out sending arms to Taiwan as his government reviews its foreign, defence and security policy.

“We stand ready to support Taiwan, as we do in standing up to Chinese aggression,” Sunak told reporters travelling with him to the G20 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 emphasising the UK view of the Indo-Pacific as a region of strategic concern.

Sunak’s foreign policy special adviser, John Bew, is updating the Boris Johnson-era integrated security, defence 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.