UK Signals Military Intervention Against China Over Taiwan
(MENAFN) The United Kingdom may consider military intervention against China if tensions escalate over Taiwan, British Defense Secretary John Healey warned, though he stressed that diplomatic efforts remain the preferred path for resolving the conflict.
In an interview with media during his visit to Australia, Healey declared that Britain would “secure peace through strength” if circumstances demand it. His comments represent one of the most direct signals from a top UK official about the potential for a military clash with Beijing.
Healey’s remarks coincided with the arrival of the HMS Prince of Wales, a British aircraft carrier outfitted with F-35 jets, in Darwin, northern Australia. This marks the first time in nearly three decades that a British strike group has entered the region. The carrier is engaged in a nine-month deployment across the Pacific, taking part in Australia’s Talisman Sabre military exercise and stopping at ports in Japan and South Korea.
Addressing the possibility of conflict surrounding Taiwan, Healey said, “If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together. We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together.”
He clarified that his comments were made in “general terms” and emphasized that London’s overall policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.
China views Taiwan as an integral part of its territory under the One-China principle, seeking reunification with the island. While Beijing states it prefers a peaceful resolution, it has not ruled out the use of force if necessary.
Taiwan has maintained self-governance since 1949, following the retreat of nationalist forces after the Chinese Civil War. Most countries, including Russia, officially recognize Taiwan as part of China. The UK and the US also formally uphold the One-China policy but sustain unofficial relations with Taiwan and provide it with arms and ammunition.
Last month, Beijing condemned a British warship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait, which it claims passes through Chinese territorial waters. The Chinese government accused such moves of “deliberately causing trouble” and destabilizing regional peace.
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