Taiwan agreement crosses red line

Grandstanding Edinburgh councillors love nothing better than sounding off about how important it is for the capital city to set an example to the world, whether it’s bankrupting householders with mad climate change targets or trying to force us to stop eating meat.

But on rare occasions these things do get noticed and there may be one such case next week if a plan to sign a city friendship agreement with the Mayor of Kaohsiung in Taiwan is approved. That big building outside Murrayfield flying the red flag isn’t just there to process travel visas, and the Chinese Consul General is taking a keen interest in the proposal, and I’m told has warned of dire consequences should it be voted through.

Edinburgh University seems to have become a diplomatic football, with the Taiwanese apparently promising a £2 million investment if the agreement is signed, but then China is threatening to block all visas for Chinese students, not just those at Edinburgh, but all Scottish universities.

Taiwanese diplomats have worked tirelessly to form strong civic relationships in Edinburgh, and apparently the Chinese have no objection to informal arrangements such as have existed for years, but formal agreements with Taiwan are a red line, so to speak.

Council leader Cammy Day has very close relationships with Taiwan, visiting at its government’s expense last year, but if there is a showdown between nuclear-armed President Xi and Cllr Day with nothing but the Granton gasholder for a defensive shield, a diplomatic solution might be in order.

Taiwan agreement crosses red line - John McLellan