UK boosts submarine-related exports to Taiwan at risk of angering China | – #boosts #submarinerelated #exports #Taiwan #risk #angering #China
LONDON, March 13 (Reuters) – Britain confirmed a sharp increase in exports of submarine parts and technology to Taiwan last year as it upgraded its naval forces, which Britain may affect China’s relations with
Great Britain The value of licenses issued by the British government to companies to export submarine-related components and technology to Taiwan was a record 167 million pounds ($201.29 million) in the first nine months of last year, according to government export license data. dollars) organized. That’s more than the total for the previous six years, a Reuters analysis of the data showed.
The data is publicly available, but the latest figures for Taiwan have not been previously reported.
Beijing considers Taiwan a part of China, known as the “One China Policy” and strongly rejects foreign interference in the island, believing it supports Taiwan’s desire to be recognized as its own country. protest does.
When the figures were presented by Reuters, China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “If this is true, it is a serious violation of the one-China principle, violates China’s sovereignty and security interests, and undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” .”
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England to “Taiwan government military “China is very concerned about this and strongly opposes it,” the written statement said.
Britain does not recognize Taiwan and has no formal diplomatic relations with the island, but it maintains economic and trade ties and there is a de facto British embassy in Taipei.
A British government spokesman said in a statement that the UK “has a long track record of granting licenses for the export of controlled goods to Taiwan, where these applications comply with the rules governing arms and weapons exports. dual-use products.”
“We will resolve the Taiwan issue through constructive dialogue by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait without threat, force or coercion way peace with way we consider the solution with”.
The increase in licenses issued reflects greater demand from Taiwan, two government officials said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Two MPs and two former officials with knowledge of the export said the approvals reflected Britain’s growing willingness to support Taiwan. One lawmaker, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said allowing export licenses would mean giving Taiwan a “green light” to better equip itself.
The data is from the Export Control Authority, which is responsible for licensing exports and operates within the UK’s Department for International Trade. It shows that the government has granted 25 export licenses to Taiwan in the categories of “submarine components” and “submarine technology” during the first nine months of 2022.
The data does not reveal which companies have received the permit or which specific equipment it covers.
A type of license called ML9 is a strategic UK export permit required military includes “warships, special naval equipment, accessories, components and other surface vessels,” according to the list of objects. Another license type, ML22, covers technology. required for the development, manufacture, operation, installation, maintenance, repair or manufacture of goods or software.
The British government announced on Monday that it is increasing defense spending as it outlines how it plans to deal with “new threats” from China and Russia on its defense, security and foreign policy priorities.
RAISED VOLTAGE
Between Beijing and Taipei military tensions have reached their highest levels in decades. Off the coast of China approx 10Taiwan, 0 miles southeast, said it was building a fleet of submarines to bolster its naval defenses. For decades, Taiwan has been unable to buy conventional submarines from other countries because they worry about angering China.
Taiwan’s democratically elected government strongly rejects China’s claims of sovereignty, saying only the island’s people can decide their own future.
Reuters earlier news as provided, a number of foreign underwater technology vendors are assisting the program with the approval of their governments.
In response to a request for comment on submarine exports from Britain, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence in his statement that his shipbuilding program is “main national said that there is politics and that the Navy pragmatically supports various projects. “
“We hope that all sections of the society will continue to give their support to jointly protect the security and peace of the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said.
Taipei aims to test its first prototype by September and deliver the first of eight planned vessels by 2025.
British submarine licensing has increased since Taiwan announced plans to build a submarine fleet in 2017.
According to Licensing data, the UK took £31,415 in 2017 to 2020It approved the export of underwater components and technology to Taiwan worth £87m in 2018. The value of such licenses approved in 2021 fell to just under £9 million.
Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsUK ‘leans’ into INDO-PACIFIC
Britain’s Integration Review, a document outlining the country’s defense, security and foreign policy priorities published in March 2021, showed a “tilt” to the Indo-Pacific, but did not mention Taiwan.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine last year raised questions in Britain and elsewhere in the West about other possible future flashpoints around the world.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told Reuters last month that the West’s support for Kiev was a signal to other countries that the land grab was not working. “This conflict is important because the world is watching whether the West will defend values such as freedom, democracy, liberal societies and the rule of law.
Despite protests from Beijing, Western lawmakers and other officials are stepping up visits to Taiwan. This included Greg Hands, then UK Secretary of State for Trade, in November. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at the time: “We call on the British side to stop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan and to stop sending false signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence.”
To Taiwan in December trip who is the head of the defense committee of the UK parliament and the British judge Tobias Ellwood, a member of the Conservative Party, told Reuters that the British government should be careful what details it makes public about the equipment covered by export licences.
“The announcement of the specific nature of these exports risks revealing sensitive information about Taiwan’s defense capabilities and the UK government is justified in exercising caution when discussing these exports,” Ellwood said.
One former British official said: “Every decision around Taiwan is very deliberate and usually made carefully.” “You just don’t do such a thing without thinking very carefully about the consequences,” the official replied to the question about agreeing to increase export licenses.
($1 = £0.8297)
Additional by Ben Blanchard in Taipei, Martin Quin Pollard in Beijing, and Andy Bruce and Paul Sandle in London report; Edited by Cassell Bryan-Low
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-03-13 11:51:50
Source – reuters
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