A prominent Commons committee is hosting MPs in Taiwan this week. This move will likely anger Beijing given the strained relations between the UK and China.

According to the foreign affairs committee, its members will be visiting the island self-ruling, which China claims as its territory from Tuesday through Saturday.

This move will likely increase tensions with Beijing. Beijing cut diplomatic ties to the US in August after Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, visited Taiwan in August.

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During the trip, the committee will be able to meet President TsaiIng-Wen, Wellington Koo (secretaire-general of National Security Council), and Su Tseng Chang (premier and president of Executive Yuan).

They will also meet with representatives of civil society and businesses.

Alicia Kearns (Tory MP) said that Taiwan’s visit was a long-standing priority for the committee’s foreign affairs committee.

“The UK is blessed to have strong cultural and trade ties with Taiwan. This fosters shared ambitions in clean energy, education and advanced new technologies.

“The many challenges to security, prosperity, and security across the globe make constructive relationships between democracies such as the UK and Taiwan all the more crucial.”

This move will not help UK-China relations.

Ms. Pelosi’s summer trip prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping, to take a variety of diplomatic and military measures, including cutting off all climate change talks with Washington.

With an unprecedented third term, Mr. Xi has strengthened his control on power. This could help him to take a stronger stance toward the West and Taiwan.

Taiwan is self-governing ever since 1949, when nationalist forces fled Taiwan after China was taken over by the communists.

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China considers it a rebel province and claims the island as its own territory. It opposes any involvement by Taiwanese officials in foreign relations.

Rishi Sunak, who condemned the police crackdown against anti-lockdown protests in China, declared last night the end of the “golden age” of UK-Chinese relations.

On Monday, the prime minister addressed the Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London: “We recognize China poses a systemic threat to our values and interest, a challenge which grows more acute as China moves towards greater authoritarianism.”

He also warned that the UK cannot ignore China’s importance in international affairs, to global economic stability and issues like climate change.