Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Wednesday (May 17) called on allies to step up economic engagement against China and make sure Taiwan has defensive capabilities during a news conference in Taipei, Reuters reports.
She also urged more cooperation across the Indo-Pacific that engages with Taiwan to enhance security in the region.
"All we can do, those of us who believe in freedom and democracy, is make sure that Taiwan is protected as possible and the Chinese government understands that there would be severe consequences if they tried to take Taiwan by force," said Truss during the press conference.
Truss is the most well-known British politician to visit Taiwan since former prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1990s, and her trip comes at a time when relations between Britain and China are the worst in decades.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London criticized her visit, calling it a "dangerous political show which will do nothing but harm to the United Kingdom."
