Boris Johnson Slams China on Taiwan, Urges Stronger Western Alliances

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson didn’t hold back during a speech in Taipei, blasting China for its “bullying” of Taiwan and urging Western countries to stand firmly by the island’s side.

Speaking at the Ketagalan Forum, he called Taiwan a vibrant, free society that doesn’t deserve the heavy-handed pressure from Beijing. Johnson is the third former UK prime minister to visit Taiwan, following in the footsteps of Liz Truss in 2023 and Margaret Thatcher decades ago.

"There's absolutely no case for the current Chinese bullying of Taiwan. This is a free, peaceful society. It does not deserve to be intimidated in this way,"  Johnson said in a video shared by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s office.

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He stressed that Taiwan’s not just a key player in global tech but a shining example of democracy, and he wants to see stronger trade and political connections with countries like the UK. His visit comes as the UK and China are trying to smooth over their own rocky relationship, with current Prime Minister Keir Starmer possibly heading to Beijing later this year.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own, has been flexing its muscles with near-constant military drills and diplomatic arm-twisting. Taiwan’s leaders, though, are clear: only the island’s people get to decide their future. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office hasn’t responded to Johnson’s comments yet, but they’ve slammed similar visits before as foreign meddling.

At the same event, hosted by Taipei’s Prospect Foundation, President Lai promised to ramp up Taiwan’s defenses, aiming to boost military spending to over 3% of GDP by 2026. He also pitched a “democratic supply chain” to team up economically with allies, hoping to make the world’s economies tougher and keep democratic values strong.

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Johnson’s words shine a light on Taiwan’s growing role in a tense region. Even without formal diplomatic ties, the UK and Taiwan share deep economic and cultural bonds, showing just how much Taiwan matters globally.