Facts

• Despite having no formal diplomatic ties with the UK, Taiwanese Minister of Digital Industry, Audrey Tang, will make an unusual high-level ministerial trip to Britain this week.
• Tang, a high-visibility minister due to her fluent English and use of Twitter, will meet with both British officials and the company OneWeb, which specializes in low-earth orbit satellites, to "exchange views on issues related to digital governance and digital industry cooperation."
• Taiwan views the UK as a vital partner, as the UK has expressed concern over China's increasing military activities. London has also supported Taiwan's participation in institutions including the World Health Organization.
• Tang will attend London Tech Week, where she is expected to visit Britain's Dept. for Science, Innovation, and Technology and Dept. for Business and Trade, as well as the Global Leaders Innovation Summit, the Artificial Intelligence Summit London, and an AI Roundtable.
• The Ministry said that Tang seeks collaboration in areas including investment, information security, and relations between Taipei and London.
• In November 2022, Britain's then-Minister of State for Trade, Greg Hands, met with Taiwanese Pres. Tsai Ing-wen in Taiwan. The PRC criticized the visit.