Former Prime Minister Liz Truss called on her successor Rishi sunak to declare that China is a threat to UK security.
Ms Truss spoke in Taiwan’s capital Taipei where she stated that Mr Sunak must apologize for the language he used last summer during the Conservative Party’s leadership contest.
He promised to close all Confucius Institutes of Beijing in the UK.
Some schools and universities have institutes that promote Chinese culture.
Ms Truss stated: “He had a point and we must see these policies implemented urgently.”
“The UK integrated review should be revised to make it clear that China is a danger.
Confucius Institutes must be shut down immediately. The service could instead be provided by organizations with the help of Hong Kong and Taiwanese citizens who are in the UK for free.”
Ms Truss is believed to be the first former British Prime Minister to visit Taiwan since Margaret Thatcher visited in the 1990s.
She warned that China was not a partner for the West and that totalitarian governments “don’t speak the truth”.
“We know the damage that totalitarian regimes do to the environment and world health – but you can’t trust a word of what they say.”
She also said that China “is undertaking the largest military build-up ever in peacetime history.” They already have a strategy in mind.
The only option we have is to either accept and accommodate this strategy or take immediate action.
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Ms Truss’s visit coincides with a period of increasing tensions in the region. China is increasing its pressure on Taiwan and insisting that it must be united with the mainland, if necessary, by force.
Taiwan claims independence from China.
Ms Truss called on a “more concerted approach” to ensure Taiwan’s defence in the face Chinese aggression. She added that Western countries should not engage in economic dialogue with China as long as it maintains its aggressive posture.
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