UK would likely become involved if a China-Taiwan war breaks out, defence expert says

The UK would "likely" become involved if a war between China and Taiwan were to break out, according to a defence security expert.

Rising tensions between the two Asian nations are causing widespread concern over the supply of semiconductor chips.

They are essential components of military equipment and Taiwan is the biggest manufacturer of them in the world.

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Dr Raymond Kuo, an expert in International Security and East Asia, told Forces News: "The likelihood that the UK would be brought into a conflict, I think, if a conflict were to occur, would be quite high.

"Especially with Aukus – the Australia–UK–US collaboration on creating nuclear submarines.

"If I'm China, and I'm thinking, 'Ok I want to take a risk', I also have to prevent the US or any other supporter from coming in.

"That means I probably have to take out US forces based in Japan, which would probably bring in the Japanese, I have to prevent regional support for the United States, which means Australia, maybe the Phillippines as well, and that could very easily bring in the UK too.

"And so, as a result, I totally think that, were a war to happen, it would be a pretty big one.

"It would be, 'let’s bring in everybody all at once'."

Why is Taiwan politically significant?

Taiwan has been self-governing since nationalist forces fled there in 1949 after the communists took control of China.

It is considered to be a rebel province by China, which claims the island as its territory and opposes any engagement by Taiwanese officials with foreign governments.

China views Taiwan as a province it will win back, while the US sees it as independent.

Beijing has been increasing both diplomatic and military pressure in recent years.

It cut off all contact with Taiwan's government in 2016 after President Tsai Ing-wen refused to endorse its claim that the island and mainland together make up a single Chinese nation, with Communist Beijing the sole legitimate government.