British lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith says that Western countries must keep Taiwan high on their international agenda, citing its importance to the global economy, advanced chip production, democracy and regional security. Speaking with TaiwanPlus London Correspondent Amelia Loi, the former Conservative Party leader warned that a takeover of Taiwan by China could cause severe economic damage and expand Beijing’s regional dominance. He also pointed to Hong Kong’s experience under Chinese rule and argued that the UK should be more open about supporting Taiwan. Smith was sanctioned by Beijing in 2021 over his criticism of alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.