"China threatened to cancel high-level trade talks with the UK earlier this year over a government minister's visit to Taiwan, the Guardian can disclose. Beijing told the British government it would pull its first trade and economic dialogue with the UK in seven years after Douglas Alexander, then a trade minister, travelled to Taipei in late June. The engagement threatened to scupper the UK-China trade and economic commission (Jetco), which ultimately did go ahead after diplomats privately scrambled to contain the diplomatic fallout with Beijing."
"During the visit, which received little media attention in the UK, Alexander, now secretary of state for Scotland, held talks with his Taiwanese counterpart, Cynthia Kiang, and pledged to boost trade in key sectors. Beijing is extremely sensitive about other countries' engagement with Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province that will eventually come under its control. There are fears it will eventually try to annex the island by force."
China threatened to cancel the UK’s first trade and economic dialogue in seven years after Douglas Alexander, then a trade minister, visited Taipei on 29–30 June and met Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te. Alexander met his Taiwanese counterpart, Cynthia Kiang, and pledged to boost trade in key sectors. British diplomats scrambled to contain the diplomatic fallout and the UK-China trade and economic commission (Jetco) ultimately went ahead, with Peter Kyle traveling to China in early September shortly after his appointment. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and remains highly sensitive to foreign engagement with the island.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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