To protect Taiwan, Ukraine must be helped to defeat Russia, says the former British defense secretary

If Western countries allow Russia to defeat Ukraine, China will see this as a signal to invade Taiwan, former British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in an editorial for the Sunday Times published on October 26.

Fears of an escalating Chinese military intervention in Taiwan have increased increased sharply since Russia launched its program large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The war has served as a possible model for how both Taipei and the international community might respond if Beijing decides to invade.

“We have the opportunity to send a clear message to China’s leaders that subjugating neighboring democracy by force will never be acceptable,” Shapps said. wrote during Sunday times.

“We need to get this message across by acting much closer to home, here in Europe.”

Increasing support to Ukraine is the most effective way to deter this country China of attacks TaiwanShapps writes, saying a conflict between Beijing and Taipei would have a devastating impact on the global economy.

“Now is therefore the time not only to authorize long-range missiles for our Storm Shadow missiles, but to do so without waiting for a decision from Washington,” Shapps said.

The Ukrainian army has received British Storm shadowslong-range missiles that can fly up to 250 kilometers (150 miles), but are not allowed to fly use them on Russian soil. Kiev has urged its allies to lift restrictions on the use of Western-supplied weapons, a step also included in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision. five point victory plan.

“The costs of allowing the use of our weapons even inside Russia if (Russian President Vladimir) Putin attacks from there would be minimal compared to the consequences of Putin’s victory – and thereby making others believe that you time the interests of the West.” ‘, said Shapps.

Shapps called on Britain and other Western governments to step up their policies military aid to Ukrainearguing that strong defense of Ukraine alongside a “peaceful political discussion” with China offered the best strategy to protect Taiwan and prevent an escalating global conflict.

“Doubling our support for Ukraine today would not only be the right thing to do, but would also make an invasion of Taiwan much less likely, protecting us from a recession or even depression,” he said.