The UK agreed to increase exports of submarine parts and technology Taiwan. The move would increase the island’s naval strength and could affect Britain’s relations with China.
The value of licenses granted by the British government to companies to export components and technology was reported to be over US$200 million in the first nine months of last year. This is more than the previous six years.
Data from the United Kingdom’s International Trade, Export Control Organization was published by the news agency this Monday, the 13th. Reuters. They show the government approved 25 export licenses to Taiwan last year in the “components” and “technology” categories for submarines.
Licenses approved by the British government include ML9, which covers warships and naval equipment, and ML22, which covers technology for production and development. Software.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China, a practice known as the One China Policy, and strongly opposes the idea of foreign intervention on the island, believing it supports Taiwan’s desire to be recognized as its own country.
A ReutersChina’s Foreign Ministry said, “If this is true, it is a serious violation of the One China policy, undermines China’s sovereignty and security interests, and undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
The UK government said in a statement that “Taiwan has a long history of granting licenses to export controlled goods on a case-by-case basis, provided such requests are consistent with the rules governing the export of arms and dual-use items.”
Military tensions between Beijing and Taipei are at their highest in decades. Taiwan, about 100 miles southeast of China’s coast, says it is building submarines to bolster its naval defenses. Taiwan’s troubled relationship with China has long prevented it from buying conventional submarines from other countries.
