China accuses Truss of ‘dangerous stunt’ as she uses Taiwan visit to issue ominous warning

‘There are severe consequences if they [China] tried to take Taiwan by force’

Britain’s former prime minister Liz Truss arrives to deliver a speech on the second day of her five-day visit in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, 17 May 2023

(AP)

Britain’s former prime minister Liz Truss has been criticised by Beijing as she used a speech in Taiwan on Wednesday to warn of the threat China poses to both the island and to the West.

Speaking as part of a five-day visit to the island that has rattled the government in Beijing, Ms Truss told reporters: “It’s absolutely clear that President Xi [Jinping of China] has the ambition to take Taiwan.”

She continued: “Now, we don’t know exactly when that could take place, we also don’t know how, and it’s my view that the preference of President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party would be to do it in a way that doesn’t involve using force, but I certainly think they would be prepared to use force if necessary.