Taiwan’s foreign ministry says it will continue working with Britain after voters in the UK decided in a referendum to leave the European Union. The comments came Monday during a report at the legislature.
The foreign ministry’s chief secretary, Paul Chang, told lawmakers that one of the outcomes of the British exit – or Brexit – is that it will be more autonomous. That’s because, he said, it will no longer need to abide by the EU’s foreign policies. Therefore, Chang said, Taiwan can expect to work more closely with Britain.
“Britain’s exit from the EU will have no impact on the agreements that we have signed or are in the process of signing with the country. In the future, we will have opportunities to reach other agreements with the UK, similar to those we have signed with other EU countries, including ones on economic collaboration and investment," said Chang.
The foreign ministry says it could take seven to ten years for Britain to exit the EU. The ministry says it remains to be seen whether the move will impact Taiwanese companies’ investments in other parts of Europe.
The foreign ministry also said Brexit should not change European nations’ VISA-free policies for Taiwanese visitors.