Defence Secretary John Healey has said Britain is ready to fight if conflict breaks out over Taiwan.
The island nation has long been at loggerheads with China, strongly rejecting Beijing‘s claim to sovereignty over it after the countries separated in the late forties.
China’s president Xi Jinping has previously said he would not rule out using force in the ‘reunification of the motherland’.
And now Mr Healey, when asked what the UK is doing to help countries like Taiwan prepare for potential Chinese escalation, has said Britain would fight in the Pacific.
He was speaking on a visit to the HMS Prince of Wales, docked in the Australian city of Darwin, with the country’s deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles.
He told The Telegraph, during the carrier group’s nine-month Pacific deployment: ‘If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together.
‘We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together.’
These are some of the strongest words ever issued by the British government on the topic of potential engagement in any conflict in the region.
Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured on a visit to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier today) has said Britain is ready to fight if conflict breaks out over Taiwan
The island nation has long been at loggerheads with China, strongly rejecting Beijing’s claim to sovereignty over it after the countries separated in the late forties. Pictured: From second left, Mr Healey, Australian deputy prime minister and minister for defence Richard Marles, British foreign secretary David Lammy and Australian foreign minster Penny Wong on the visit to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier today
Mr Healey (pictured with Mr Marles on the visit to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier today), when asked what the UK is doing to help countries like Taiwan prepare for potential Chinese escalation, has said Britain would fight in the Pacific
But the minister emphasised he was talking in ‘general terms’ – and the UK would prefer any disputes there were resolved ‘peacefully’ and ‘diplomatically’.
‘We secure peace through strength, and our strength comes from our allies’, he added.
Experts have previously warned an invasion of Taiwan could cause a large-scale conflict, pulling in nations from across the world.
It is because the country manufactures most advanced computer chips.
Mr Healey said ‘threats’ in the Indo-Pacific region are on the rise.
It follows the Chinese military taking control of contentious reefs – and was accused of intimidating its neighbours there.
The Defence Secretary’s remarks also come as the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group sails with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time in nearly 40 years.
The fleet will continue on to Japan, likely coming close to Taiwan.
China’s president Xi Jinping (pictured) has previously said he would not rule out using force in the ‘reunification of the motherland’
The Defence Secretary’s remarks also come as the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group (pictured on the visit today) sails with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time in nearly 40 years
Deploying the strike carrier group, which is the UK’s largest of its kind, in the Pacific for nine-months shows Britain is aware of increasing threats in the region.
Sending it to Darwin in particular indicates close ties between the UK and Australia – key to any potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
Indeed, Mr Healey noted such a partnership was especially important currently, as threats in the region increase.
The defence secretary emphasised the UK’s interest in international rules, stability and security, as well as both freedom of the seas and navigation in the area.
British officials have previously not commented on whether the UK would intervene in any conflict in the region.
This is in line with the United States’ stance, which has been dubbed ‘strategic ambiguity’ – and most other nations follow it too.
Two Royal Navy patrol vessels are stationed permanently in the region.
The UK government recognised, in its National Security Strategy published earlier this year: ‘There is a particular risk of escalation around Taiwan.’
Deploying the strike carrier group (pictured on the visit today), which is the UK’s largest of its kind, in the Pacific for nine-months shows Britain is aware of increasing threats in the region
Former defence secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured in 2019) said the UK is probably becoming more candid on its stance on the matter as threats in the Indo-Pacific increase.
Former defence secretary Gavin Williamson said the UK is probably becoming more candid on its stance on the matter as threats in the Indo-Pacific increase.
‘I think there’s a realisation that by being completely silent it doesn’t make it more or less likely’, he explained.
Deterrence, he added, involves making clear the consequences that will come if others act dangerously or maliciously.
Mr Williamson, who led the MoD from 2017 to 2019, added it is important someone as prominent as the British defence secretary is clear actions have consequences.
Former US president Joe Biden has previously broken strategic ambiguity on several occasions, saying the US would support Taiwan against China.
His successor Donald Trump has not done this – but Pentagon officials are said to be preparing for conflict.
His government has said it will review its membership of the AUKUS security agreement, between the US, Australia and the UK.
It comes as part of Mr Trump’s ‘America first’ approach.
US President Donald’s Trump administration has said it will review its membership of the AUKUS security agreement, between the US, Australia and the UK. Pictured: L-R Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, former US president Joe Biden and former prime minister Rishi Sunak at the AUKUS summit in March 2023
The UK and Australia have made a renewed commitment to each other in recent times. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa in October 2024
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has also not spoken out whether the nation would join the US and other allies to fight China in any conflict in the region.
He refused to comment on the matter last week.
The UK and Australia have made a renewed commitment to each other in recent times.
The two nations signed the Geelong Treaty this weekend – a 50-year agreement cementing their commitment to the AUKUS pact.
It also commits them to building a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
The HMS Prince of Wales anchoring in Darwin marks the first time a British carrier strike group has docked in Australia.
It is also the first time a non-US carrier has taken part in Australia’s annual military drills, the so-called Talisman Sabre.
The event this year was the largest it has ever been.
Foreign secretary David Lammy (pictured, centre, on the visit today) also boarded the HMS Prince of Wales, on the same day as and just before his colleague Mr Healey
While the UK is turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey (pictured on the visit today) confirmed there would be no change to its level of engagement with Taiwan
Foreign secretary David Lammy also boarded the HMS Prince of Wales, on the same day as and just before his colleague Mr Healey.
He has previously said Britain plans to undertake more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait.
Last month, a Royal Navy patrol ship, the HMS Spey, moved through the strait – which was praised by Taiwan but frowned upon by China.
Britain does not comment on the future movements of its vessels.
But it is thought the HMS Prince of Wales will soon also travel through the strait on its way to South Korea and Japan.
While the UK is turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey confirmed there would be no change to its level of engagement with Taiwan.
Mr Williamson said Britain would likely only alter this stance if China got increasingly aggressive.
