In a significant strategic declaration, British Defence Secretary John Healey has stated that the United Kingdom is prepared to defend Taiwan in the event of an attack by Beijing. The forceful comments, delivered from the deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales while docked in Australia, represent one of the most direct Western commitments to the island’s security and have sent ripples through the international community.
Healey’s pledge stands in stark contrast to the policy of “strategic ambiguity” often maintained by the United States. While former President Joseph Biden occasionally hinted at direct intervention, his administration and that of his successor Donald Trump largely avoided explicit guarantees to Taipei. The British statement also appears to outpace regional allies, as Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, present for the address, remained silent on the topic, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has adopted a more cautious public stance.
This robust rhetoric is backed by a tangible show of force. The HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group, equipped with F-35 fighter jets, is conducting its first major deployment to the Pacific since 1997, the year of Hong Kong’s handover to China. After visiting Australia, the flotilla is scheduled to sail to Japan and may conduct operations in the sensitive Taiwan Strait, signaling a renewed British naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. The UK already maintains two patrol vessels permanently stationed in the region.
London’s position is deeply intertwined with its alliance commitments, particularly the AUKUS security pact with the United States and Australia. The agreement’s text suggests that no member could easily avoid participation if another were drawn into a regional conflict. Given the U.S. legal obligation to help Taiwan defend itself, Healey’s statement can be seen as reinforcing the UK’s role as Washington’s primary military ally in a potential crisis, reflecting a calculated policy rather than an impromptu remark.
Beijing has dismissed the declaration as anachronistic and provocative. China’s state-affiliated Global Times newspaper characterized the move as “British nostalgia for empire” and an attempt by London to expand its military footprint in the Asia-Pacific to please Washington. The outlet suggested Healey’s comments were a response to U.S. pressure on regional partners to clarify their positions, portraying the UK as confirming its status as America’s most loyal ally.