The British parliament has for the first time referred to Taiwan as an “independent country” in an official document, breaking a political taboo as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits China this week.

The new language, adopted in a report published Wednesday by the influential foreign affairs committee of the House of Commons, risks a stinging backlash from Beijing and comes as Cleverly becomes the first top British envoy to visit Beijing in five years amid a frosty relationship.

Beijing has long denied Taiwan’s statehood, insisting the self-governing democratic island is part of its territory. Only 13 countries around the world recognize Taipei instead of Beijing diplomatically.

  • @Womble
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    11 year ago

    and what, pray tell, was the casus belli for this legitimate invasion of a neighbours territory?

    I hope youre not just going to say Russian security concerns, because you wouldnt be hypocritical and say thats fine and the bay of pigs wasnt fine for American security concerns now would you?

    • @[email protected]
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      -21 year ago

      and what, pray tell, was the casus belli for this legitimate invasion of a neighbours territory?

      National security, duh? Why are you pretending not to know this obvious fact?

      because you wouldnt be hypocritical and say thats fine and the bay of pigs wasnt fine for American security concerns now would you?

      Well of course not. The BoP invasion had nothing to do with American security concerns.