The White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell and Laura Rosenberger, China’s top National Security Council official, met with Taiwanese representatives in the UK in early March, according to sources familiar with the situation. It happened during a wider two-day meeting with their respective groups on the Indo-Pacific strategy. Three people aware of the growing commitment said the United States wanted to step up co-operation with European allies such as the United Kingdom to raise awareness of what the government sees as Beijing’s increasingly dynamic stance on Taiwan, which it sees as part of China. The United States is not binding on the United Kingdom because of an imminent threat. The dialogue in Taiwan is intended to complement the more advanced US-led talks with Japan and Australia as Beijing has stepped up military activity around Taiwan. In recent years, China has flown more and more fighter jets, bombers and other warplanes near the island. Admiral John Aquilino, the head of the US Indo-Pacific administration, told the Financial Times last month during a trip to Australia to support the alliance that the war in Ukraine underscored China’s risk to Taiwan. One of the people said that the meeting in Taiwan was about everything from how the UK could do more diplomacy with Taipei to talks on strengthening deterrence in Asia. It also included talks on the role the UK would play if the US ended up at war with China over Taiwan. The person added that the Biden government had provided some allies with information about Taiwan, formerly known as “NOFORN” – a name that prohibits the exchange of information with foreign officials.

A British official said the limited meeting was the “highest level” and “most important” discussion between the two countries on Taiwan to date. He said it was part of a “deeper political dialogue” that began during the Biden administration. “Of course, planning the crisis would be a big part of any such discussion about Taiwan,” the official added. The White House did not comment on the meeting in Taiwan. A spokesman for the UK government said: “We never comment on private meetings.” Ryan Haas, a Taiwanese expert at the Brookings Institution, said it was wise to step up consultations on Taiwan, both to reduce the chances of war and to prepare for a possible conflict, especially given the “Ukraine scenario”. “It is prudent for US officials to quietly consult with partners on what could be done to prevent conflict in the Taiwan Straits and, if necessary, to respond decisively to the challenges to peace and stability there,” he said. Χασ. As a sign of enhanced cooperation with the UK, HMS Queen Elizabeth, a British aircraft carrier, spent more than six months last year deploying in the Indo-Pacific. Haino Klink, a former senior Pentagon official in Asia, welcomed the US-UK consultations on Taiwan. He said they came after European naval developments in the Indo-Pacific escalated last year after the Trump administration discussed with European allies to boost operations in the South China Sea. “It is in everyone’s interest to prevent Chinese aggression against Taiwan. “It’s not just an Indo-Pacific issue, it’s a global issue.” “US military planners do not expect Germany or France to send warships or Britain to send an air carrier in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. “But when these countries send ships to the South China Sea or cross the straits of Taiwan, they send a strong message to China.” A senior Taiwanese official said Taipei was aware of US efforts to involve more allies in its planning for Taiwan. “They did it with Japan and Australia and now they are trying to do it with Britain,” he said. Diplomats in three Indo-Pacific countries say the US-enhanced US initiative has raised US commitment to Taiwan to an all-time high. Liz Trass, the UK Foreign Secretary, said this week that NATO must play a role in Asia. “We need to prevent threats to the Indo-Pacific by working with allies such as Japan and Australia to ensure that the Pacific is protected,” he said. “We have to make sure that democracies like Taiwan are able to defend themselves.” Follow Demetri Sevastopulo and Kathrin Hille on Twitter