The delegation, organised by Labour Friends of Taiwan, will hold high-level meetings with Taiwanese government officials, parliamentarians, business leaders, trade unions and civil society organisations over the coming days.
A cross-party group of five Labour MPs has embarked on a landmark visit to Taiwan, the first since Labour formed the UK government, underscoring Westminster’s growing interest in strengthening ties with the self-governed island amid escalating tensions with China.
The delegation, organised by Labour Friends of Taiwan, touched down in Taipei on Sunday and is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Taiwanese government officials, parliamentarians, business leaders, trade unions and civil society organisations over the coming days.
The group includes Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport and chair of Labour Friends of Taiwan, Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree), Connor Naismith (Crewe and Nantwich), Gill Furniss (Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough), and Tahir Ali (Birmingham Hall Green).
The group includes Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport and chair of Labour Friends of Taiwan, Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree), Connor Naismith (Crewe and Nantwich), Gill Furniss (Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough), and Tahir Ali (Birmingham Hall Green).
Speaking ahead of the trip, Mishra said the visit signalled a commitment to deepening practical cooperation between the UK and Taiwan. “This is about more than symbolism,” he said. “It’s about real, practical partnerships between the UK and Taiwan – two societies that value freedom, fairness and international cooperation. We want to ensure Taiwan has friends in the UK parliament who will speak up when it matters most.”
This visit follows closely on the heels of a trip to the UK by former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen, who toured several British institutions and delivered speeches in both Parliament and top universities. Tsai used her visit to emphasise Taiwan’s commitment to democratic values and regional security, warning of China’s growing assertiveness. “Taiwan’s insistence and the resolve of its people are crucial deterrents to China’s expansionist ambition,” she told MPs and peers in the House of Lords.
China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and opposes any form of official international recognition of its government, has reacted with increasing hostility to Western engagement with Taipei. The last Labour delegation to Taiwan in March 2024 drew a scathing response from Beijing, with China’s embassy in London labelling it “a blatant violation of the one-China principle and serious interference in China’s internal affairs.” The embassy warned of “forceful responses” to any actions undermining China’s sovereignty.
Tensions have only escalated since. Last month, China staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan in response to what it described as separatist activities by the island’s new leadership. Beijing branded Taiwanese leaders “parasites” and accused them of pushing the region towards war. In response, the UK’s Foreign Office issued a statement expressing deep concern over the exercises, calling them part of “a pattern of activity which is increasing tensions and risking dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait.”
Taiwan, though never governed by the People’s Republic of China, is claimed by Beijing as its territory and is increasingly under threat of military coercion. The island operates as a sovereign state with its own democratically elected government, armed forces, and currency. Polls consistently show that the majority of Taiwan’s 23 million people reject the idea of unification with China.
The strategic importance of Taiwan to the UK is being recognised more widely in policy circles. Andrew Yeh, executive director of the China Strategic Risks Institute, noted that “there is a growing realisation across Westminster and Whitehall that Taiwan matters deeply to the UK – not only as a trade and investment partner, but also as a vital link in the UK’s critical supply chains, from MRI scanners to advanced weapons systems.”
Yeh added that as the UK faces increasing ‘hybrid threats’ from authoritarian powers such as China and Russia, there is much to learn from Taiwan’s experience in fending off grey-zone tactics, including cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and threats to undersea infrastructure.
The Labour MPs’ visit is likely to draw a fresh rebuke from Beijing, but it also signals an emerging bipartisan consensus in the UK that Taiwan’s security, democracy, and global role deserve greater recognition and support — even at the risk of diplomatic friction with China.
