By Chia Feimao | 2025-08-19

Taiwan is at the forefront of the fight against authoritarianism, Boris Johnson, the former UK prime minister, said during a visit to Taiwan in early August.

The West, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe, should have the courage to deepen its ties with Taiwan and should not evade or yield to Beijing as China intensifies its pressure on Taiwan, he said.

Johnson gave one of the two keynote addresses at the Ketagalan Forum: 2025 Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue.

In 2021, the UK government led by Johnson presided over the first G7 summit at which the group mentioned the "importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait" in its communiqué.

China deploys ships and combat aircraft into Taiwanese waters and airspace on a daily basis, Johnson said. By doing so, it signals its intent to achieve reunification by force in 2027 and to eradicate democracy.

Chinese use of force would trigger a global disaster and would be an act of "madness," said Johnson. Citing the Russo-Ukrainian war as an example, he urged Beijing not to underestimate the Taiwanese people's resolve or the West's support.

Emphasizing that freedom and the rule of law are key to technological innovation, Johnson praised Taiwan for its world-leading position in semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

"As China intensifies its pressure on Taiwan, I hope we all, the West ... will have the courage not to tiptoe away, not to be cowed by our desire to be deferential to Beijing but to stand with Taiwan and deepen our economic partnership," he said.

In June, the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey transited the Taiwan Strait. It was the first such passage by the Royal Navy since 2021.

Rebutting criticism from China, the British Office Taipei said that Royal Navy vessels have every right to sail in the region under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Warships from the United States, Japan, Germany and Canada have also conducted high-profile transits through the Taiwan Strait.

UK prepared to fight

In an interview during multinational military exercises in Australia in late July, UK Defense Secretary John Healey said the United Kingdom is prepared to fight in the Pacific if war breaks out in Taiwan.

"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."

His words were "among the most robust from a British official on the subject of possible engagement in a future war in the region," the London Telegraph reported at the time.

Commenting on Healey's statement, Johnson said he did not think it was aimed at any specific situation. But if the United States decided to take action, it would likely request assistance from close partners like the United Kingdom and Australia, he said.

Adding that the United States should not be handed all responsibilities for security, he said that NATO and European Union countries are increasing their defense budgets and that he was pleased to see Taiwan follow suit.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te announced at the Ketagalan Forum that the national defense budget will exceed 3% of GDP next year.

Taiwan stands on the front line against authoritarian threats and plays a pivotal role in the global defense of democracy, said Lai.

"As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will stand with the world's democracies to face challenges, uphold the rules-based international order, defend peace through strength, and protect our hard-earned free and democratic way of life," he said.

Other speakers support Taiwan

The Ketagalan Forum is Taiwan's annual security forum. Dignitaries, scholars and analysts from 10 foreign countries, including the United States, Japan and nations in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, spoke at this year's forum.

Francois de Rugy, a former president of the French National Assembly, said the Taiwan Strait is a vital channel for global trade. The international community must counter China's continuing efforts to isolate Taiwan in the military, economic and diplomatic spheres and threaten the stability of the Indo-Pacific, he said.

Taiwan is an "indispensable partner" in the defense of democracy and freedom and that France and the EU should support Taiwan's participation in international forums and strengthen cooperation with democracies in the Indo-Pacific, including promoting Taiwan's "New Southbound Policy," he said.

Jason Kenney, a former Canadian defense minister, said Canada is shedding old illusions about Beijing and turning toward a more proactive Indo-Pacific strategy, emphasizing the need to deepen cooperation with Taiwan in security and technology.

As a major producer of energy and critical minerals, Canada has the potential to become a major supplier to democratic partners in the Indo-Pacific so as to reduce their dependence on China, he said.

Tomohiko Taniguchi, a special advisor to Shinzo Abe, a former Japanese prime minister, said that the security of Japan and Taiwan has never been so closely linked. "Japan must stand with Taiwan," he said.

The Japan-US alliance has expanded to include the Philippines, Australia and India. However, the lack of communication between the Japanese and Taiwanese militaries could hinder coordination in a crisis, said Taniguchi. He called on political leaders in both countries to step up military coordination, starting with low-key interactions between lower-level officers.