Britain Prepared to Act Over Taiwan Conflict, Says Defence Secretary

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Britain has made it clear it is prepared to act alongside its allies in defence of Taiwan should hostilities with China escalate. Defence Secretary John Healey delivered the message during recent Indo-Pacific meetings, stating unequivocally that the UK will not shy away from military deterrence or action if required.

Healey’s remarks were made during the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) in Sydney, where a joint statement between both governments reaffirmed their commitment to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Ministers from both countries warned that any attempt to change the status quo by force would be met with united resistance.

This position aligns with the UK’s recently updated Strategic Defence Review, which identifies China as a destabilising actor in the international order. The review includes a major boost to defence capabilities, such as long-range missile development, autonomous weapons systems, and expanded submarine production. The UK has also committed to raising defence spending to at least 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with ambitions to reach 3% in the next parliamentary term.

Top military leaders have added weight to the urgency. Sir Simon Case, former Cabinet Secretary, recently cautioned that the UK should be ready for a potential Chinese move on Taiwan by 2027 or 2028, pointing to explicit signals coming from Beijing. General Roly Walker, Chief of the Army, has stated that Britain must be prepared for war within three years, underlining the need for enhanced military lethality and advanced capabilities.

Britain’s increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific reflects this changing strategic reality. Through Operation Highmast and participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, featuring the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, the UK has demonstrated its commitment to working alongside Australia, the United States, and other partners in maintaining freedom of navigation and regional security.

These joint military exercises are not just symbolic; they are designed to showcase readiness and strengthen interoperability among allies in the face of growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

Taken together, these developments make clear that the UK is shifting away from a posture of passive deterrence. Instead, it is signalling a willingness to act if the rules-based international order is threatened, with Taiwan now central to that calculation. Britain’s stance aligns firmly with its partners in AUKUS and NATO, reinforcing a strategic consensus that aggression from Beijing will not go unanswered.