Boris Johnson to visit Taiwan for Indo-Pacific security forum

London, Aug. 1 (CNA) Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Taiwan next week to attend the Ketagalan Forum on Indo-Pacific security issues and meet with senior Taiwanese officials, according to U.K. sources.

The annual forum, hosted by the Prospect Foundation, is set to open on Aug. 5. Johnson is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech as a special guest, alongside former Canadian Defense Minister Jason Kenney.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier teased a "mystery guest" on social media -- now confirmed to be Johnson.

This will mark Johnson's first visit to Taiwan, as part of a broader trip to Asia that also includes a stop in China.

During his term as Prime Minister (2019-2022), Johnson promoted stronger U.K.-China trade ties, pushing to revive the U.K.-China Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) and Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO). Both initiatives stalled due to Beijing's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong.

Johnson's family has deep-rooted political and business ties with China. Notably, during his time as Foreign Secretary in 2018, China purchased land near London's financial district for a proposed new embassy -- a project now under review by the British government due to national security concerns.

As prime minister, Johnson's administration introduced the 2021 Integrated Review, which outlined a strategic "tilt" toward the Indo-Pacific. The 2023 update explicitly mentioned Taiwan for the first time and reaffirmed the region as a long-term U.K. foreign policy priority.

In 2021, under Johnson's leadership, the U.K. deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific, including a warship that sailed through the Taiwan Strait.