British Defense Secretary John Healey has stated that the UK might resort to military force against China if necessary, marking one of the most direct indications yet from a senior UK official about potential conflict with Beijing. The remarks were made during a visit to Australia, where the HMS Prince of Wales, a British aircraft carrier, is deployed in the Pacific, participating in joint exercises with Australian forces. Healey emphasized the importance of ‘securing peace through strength’ while acknowledging that the UK prefers diplomatic solutions.
The UK’s stance on Taiwan mirrors its alignment with the United States, despite its formal adherence to the One-China principle. Most nations, including Russia, recognize Taiwan as part of China, while the UK and the US maintain informal ties with the island. The Chinese government has previously criticized the UK’s military activities near the Taiwan Strait, labeling them as actions that deliberately disrupt regional peace. Last month, Beijing expressed concerns over a British warship’s passage through the Taiwan Strait in Chinese territorial waters, calling it a provocative act.
The UK’s strategic moves in the Pacific are part of a broader effort to strengthen alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly with Australia and Japan. The HMS Prince of Wales is on a nine-month deployment, participating in the Talisman Sabre exercise and visiting ports in Japan and South Korea. Healey’s comments, though framed as ‘general terms,’ indicate an increasing willingness to confront China if there is any escalation around Taiwan. The statement follows a pattern of rising tensions in the region, with both the US and the UK reinforcing their military presence to counter perceived threats from Beijing.
While the UK insists it prefers diplomatic channels, the deployment of a significant military asset like the HMS Prince of Wales underscores the strategic importance of Taiwan in global geopolitics. The UK’s approach reflects a broader international tension between maintaining the One-China policy and supporting the island’s de facto autonomy, a delicate balance that has been tested by recent events in the region.