Britain approved a sharp increase in the export of submarine parts and technology to Taiwan last year as part of a modernization of its naval forces, which could affect British ties with China.
Reuters writes about it.
The value of licenses issued by the British government to companies to export submarine-related components and technology to Taiwan reached a record 167 million pounds ($201.29 million) in the first nine months of last year, according to a British government agency. on export licensing.
This is more than in the previous six years combined.
Figures from Britain's Export Control Organisation, which is responsible for export licensing, show that in the first nine months of 2022, the government approved 25 export licenses to Taiwan in the categories of "submarine components" and "submarine technology".
Beijing considers Taiwan part of China, adhering to the one-China policy, and strongly opposes foreign interference on the island, seeing it as supporting Taiwan's bid to be recognized as a separate country.
In response to the figures reported by Reuters, China's foreign ministry said: "If this is true, it is a serious violation of the one-China principle, undermines China's sovereignty and security interests, and undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
"China is deeply concerned about this and strongly opposes it," it said in a written statement, which called on Britain to "refrain from providing military support to the Taiwanese authorities."
Britain does not recognize Taiwan and does not have official diplomatic relations with the island, but maintains economic and trade ties with it, and a de facto British embassy operates in Taipei.
A British government official said Britain has a long track record of "granting licenses to export goods to Taiwan on a case-by-case basis where those applications comply with the rules governing the export of arms and dual-use items".
"We believe that the Taiwan issue should be resolved peacefully by the peoples on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion," the statement added.
The increase in the number of licenses issued reflects greater demand from Taiwan, said the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Two MPs familiar with exports and two former officials said the approval of the licenses reflected Britain's willingness to support Taiwan. One lawmaker, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the issuance of the export licenses meant a "green light" to better equip Taiwan.
The British government announced an increase in defense spending on Monday, releasing an update to its defense, security and foreign policy priorities, which set out how it plans to "counter new threats" from China and Russia.