I first arrived in Taiwan in 1986 when I came here to study Mandarin.  I was delighted to return here as the British Representative in 2016.  The first thing that hit me as I arrived at Taoyuan Airport (no longer Chiang Kai-shek Airport) was the distance which Taiwan had travelled.  

This is evident politically, as Taiwanese people now enjoy a vibrant democracy and the rule of law.  And economically, as Taiwan’s companies have transitioned from basic manufacturing to supplying the world with advanced technology.  I would like to congratulate the Taiwanese people on your journey of the last 30 years.  It is something you should value greatly.

Change is a constant part of human existence.  Change is accelerating and it will demand increasing focus and ingenuity to manage it.  This year Covid 19 reminded us – if we needed reminding – of how complicated and uncertain our globalised world can feel.   

We are the creators of the factors, both positive and negative, which are driving change.  We all have responsibility to work towards enhancing the positive and minimising the negative.  

Technology can be used to curtail freedoms, but it can enhance our lives, whether Taiwan’s microchips powering our modern digital economy or the UK’s work on Covid-19 vaccines.  Our economic development has caused climate change, but has also given us the means to counter it, including the UK and Taiwan’s collaboration on offshore wind energy.  

Our international system has sometimes failed to prevent conflict, but it has also created the rules which keep the peace, including the World Trade Organisation, where the UK and Taiwan work together on global free trade.   Our shared values have not always been respected, but diversity is now deeply embedded in our societies, for example our common support for marriage equality.

These are all areas where Taiwan has an important role to play.  Taiwan and the UK are already cooperating on these issues and we want to deepen our collaboration as we face newly emerging challenges.  

Taiwan is not just the chip inside our mobile phone, it is not just the only society in Asia with marriage equality, it is not just a centre of creativity and energy, it is not just the “beautiful island” of dramatic peaks, lush forests, and precious biodiversity.  Taiwan is all these things.  And it is our firm partner as we manage our changing world together.

About Catherine Nettleton

Catherine Elizabeth Nettleton joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1983. She learned Mandarin Chinese and served in British Embassy Beijing 1987–89 and also in 2000–03. She also served in British Embassy Mexico City and at the FCO. She was the first British female Ambassador to Peru 2006–10 and was Ambassador to Venezuela 2010–14. She was the Representative at the British Office Taipei 2016-20. 

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