TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — British Defense Secretary John Healey rejected a report claiming the UK pledged to fight if war broke out over Taiwan, saying his remarks had been misrepresented, Nikkei Asia reported Friday.
Healey said The Daily Telegraph article that quoted him during a visit to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales last month was “entirely wrong.” He insisted the reporter “clearly wrote the opposite” of what he had said.
The Telegraph quoted Healey as stating that if necessary, the UK and Australia “will fight together” as they had in the past, remarks that were reported in the context of Taiwan’s defense against China. Healey told Nikkei he would not speculate on hypothetical scenarios but stressed Britain’s position was to seek a peaceful resolution.
Healey’s comments came as the HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s flagship carrier, made a port call in Tokyo as part of an eight-month deployment. The strike group includes five core vessels, 24 jets, and 17 helicopters from a dozen allied nations.
Asked whether the group would sail through the Taiwan Strait as HMS Queen Elizabeth’s strike group did in 2021, Healey declined to answer, citing security reasons. He noted, however, that the strait is international waters where British and other navies operate in line with international law.
The entire purpose of showing military strength and readiness with like-minded partners is to deter conflicts, Healey explained. He described the carrier strike group’s presence as a “contribution to regional security.”
Healey acknowledged the UK’s complex relationship with China, calling it both a vital trading partner and a source of challenges. “We will cooperate whenever we can and challenge where we must,” he said.
His talks with Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen included shared concerns over the East and South China Seas and opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo.
The two sides also condemned North Korea’s nuclear and missile activity while reaffirming their commitment to peace in the Taiwan Strait. In a joint statement, they denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a violation of the UN Charter and pledged continued support for Kyiv.
Healey framed these issues as part of a broader global security challenge. He pointed to Russia’s reliance on North Korea, Iran, and China for military support, warning of a “growing alliance of states that are potentially aggressive” that requires closer cooperation among democracies.
