Despite relations between China and the UK hitting crisis levels, Martin Vickers, MP for Cleethorpes and chair of the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group, stated Britain must look to create an ambitious deal with the state. Speaking to Express.co.uk, he also concluded the UK must be bold in its pursuit to build international trade, while also balancing strategic and political interests abroad. While advocating closer relations with countries in the region, Mr Vickers also stated the UK must be cautious not to damage ties with China in order to maintain crucial trade with the state – in light of Beijing’s threats to Taipei.
Mr Vickers is an advocate of closer relations with Taiwan but warned the UK must maintain links to China which will soon be the “dominant global power”.
He added: “We must tread carefully because there are obvious tensions between the two states.
“But in my view is we’ve got to be pragmatic, take a realistic view which means we’ve got to have a proper working relationship with China, but we shouldn’t allow that to knock us off course over our relationships with a country like Taiwan just because of the dispute between them and Mainland China.
“We’ve got to work to our own advantage.
“We’ve got to balance the political and strategic issues with commercial interests.”
UK-China trade was valued at £68.3billion in 2018 with Mr Vickers warning Britain must be careful not to damage relations and therefore Britain’s economy.
Tensions between Taiwan and China have risen to unforeseen levels this year.
China has repeatedly warned countries not to interfere in its political relationship with Taiwan, a state Beijing has claimed under its ‘one state’ policy.
JUST IN: They FINALLY get it! Germany issues economic alarm over no deal
“We need to work in relationship, obviously with mainland China because they are going to be a dominant world power for the foreseeable future.”
Despite being a separate autonomous state from China, Taiwan has no diplomatic relations with the UK.
Due to China’s One state policy, the UK does not recognise the state although the Department for International Trade, Greg Hands welcomed the pursuit to strengthen trade later this year.
Currently, the two sides hold annual trade negotiations and operate on World Trade Organisation terms – which rose to £6.6billion last year.
While relations with China remain tense, some experts have suggested London and Beijing should push for a free trade agreement.
Xiankun Lu, a member of the UK Trade Policy Observatory claimed it is essential for the two sides to agree a FTA.
