The United Kingdom is warning that it could start a war with China over Taiwan. British Defense Secretary John Healey has said that force is possible, but he emphasized that London continues to prefer a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.

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The UK seems to be anything but diplomatic and peaceful lately, though.

Healey said Britain would “secure peace through strength” if necessary, while speaking with The Telegraph in Australia.  This speech marks one of the clearest signals yet from a senior UK official regarding the possibility of a direct military confrontation with China.

Healey made the remarks as the HMS Prince of Wales, a British aircraft carrier equipped with F-35 fighter jets, docked in the northern Australian city of Darwin. It is the first time in nearly 30 years that a British strike group has arrived in the region. The carrier is on a nine-month Pacific deployment, participating in Australia’s Talisman Sabre exercise and visiting ports in Japan and South Korea. -RT

”If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together. We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together,” Healey said when asked what London would do in case of an escalation around Taiwan.

The secretary then said he was speaking in “general terms.” According to Healey, London’s approach to Taiwan has not changed.

Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, when nationalist forces retreated to the island after losing the Chinese Civil War. Most nations, including Russia, recognize Taiwan as part of China. The UK, as well as the US, also formally stick to the One-China principle while maintaining informal ties with Taiwan and supplying it with weapons and ammunition. -RT