Truss urges upping Pacific defense alliance to 'protect Taiwan'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Feb 2023 10:06

During a symposium of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss urged the "free world" to boost support for Taiwan.

Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech during a symposium of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China at the Diet Members Building in Tokyo on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. (AP)

Liz Truss, former UK Prime Minister, urged the "free world" to continue to develop a Pacific defense alliance that will "contain China" under the pretense of ensuring that "Taiwan is able to defend itself."

During a session of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China in Tokyo, on Friday, Truss argued, "We must ensure that Taiwan is able to defend itself. And we must work together across the free world to do this," adding, "I would like to see a more developed Pacific defense alliance, alongside even closer cooperation between NATO and our Pacific allies."

Despite the globally maintained One China policy, Truss asserted that a stronger Pacific defense alliance alongside increased economic links will not only "help protect Taiwan" but will further help "protect freedom".

Economy as a tool

Truss also argued that further economic integration between Taiwan and various countries would contribute to less tension in the region.

The former PM claimed that "the G7 represents over 40% of global nominal GDP – and if you add the EU, that's over half. Now that is a hugely powerful position to be in."

Truss, furthermore, rationalized that "economic weight means that we can influence other countries" by making decisions "about how we trade, who we invest in, what technology we export - and we need to use that leverage to ensure that the G7 plus allies act as an economic NATO."

In a similar vein, Truss asked world leaders to come to an agreement on a package of coordinated political, economic, and defense measures to aid Taiwan.

China sanctions Lockheed Martin, Raytheon over weapons sales to Taiwan

China's Commerce Ministry, on February 16, said it put Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) and Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N) onto an "unreliable enterprises list" over arms sales to Taiwan.

The laws forbid Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile and Defense Corporation, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, from "participating in import and export activities connected to China," as per a statement from the Ministry.

China sanctioned the two companies in February of last year for a $100 million arms sale to Taiwan.

At the time, China's Foreign Ministry stated that the sale "undermined China's security interests, seriously undermined China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

Beijing has repeatedly urged the US to stop selling armaments to Taiwan and cut its military ties with the island. However, the US approved a potential $180 million arms sale to Taiwan in December amid ongoing tensions between the island and Beijing.