Serial buffoon and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently visited China’s island province of Taiwan, where, participating in the Ketagalan Forum, a security confab, he made a series of absurd and provocative remarks, not only encouraging the separatist forces seeking to divide China but even going so far as to claim that Taiwan has a “far more robust” claim to statehood than Palestine.
Posting on X/Twitter, our co-editor Carlos Martinez aptly described Johnson as a clown and noted, “the closer parallel is actually between Taiwan and Israel. Both are essentially colonial projects designed to facilitate US power projection and to undermine Global South sovereignty.
“As Mao Zedong said in 1965, ‘Israel and Taiwan are bases of operation for imperialism in Asia. They created Israel for the Arabs and Taiwan for us. They both have the same objective.’
“And it’s no coincidence that Taiwan consistently supports Israel whereas China consistently supports Palestine. [Taiwan even made a big show recently of donating to illegal and fascist settlers in the occupied West Bank.]
“The correct anti-imperialist position is therefore: One China, Free Palestine.”
In a commentary, the website Middle East Monitor called out Johnson for “dismissing the UK’s historic responsibility for Palestinian statelessness and misrepresenting norms around international recognition of states.” It added:
“Johnson’s comments contradict the legal and diplomatic realities. As of August 2025, Palestine is recognised by… a majority of UN member states and the overwhelming majority of states in the Global South. By contrast, Taiwan is recognised by just 12 countries, with most of the international community upholding the One-China policy.
“In a column for the ‘Daily Mail’, Johnson accused UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of capitulating to ‘Hamas propaganda’ and described the move to recognise Palestinian statehood as ‘craven and pathetic.’
“Yet Johnson’s framing has been criticised for omitting the fact that Palestine’s right to statehood is affirmed in numerous UN resolutions, and that its pursuit of self-determination predates the formation of Hamas in 1987. It has further been pointed out that Israel’s borders remain undefined under international law, as claims to territory beyond the 1967 Green Line have been consistently rejected by the UN Security Council and ruled unlawful by the International Court of Justice.
“Palestinians and legal scholars have pointed to Britain’s own colonial history as a direct cause of Palestinian dispossession… Palestinians view the UK as bearing a direct historical responsibility for creating the conditions that have led to decades of occupation, apartheid, and now genocide in Gaza.”
In a strongly worded response on August 6, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London stated:
“In disregard of China’s resolute opposition, this British politician went ahead to visit Taiwan and made highly irresponsible remarks. We strongly condemn this.
“Although the two sides across the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, the fact that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China has never and will not be changed. This is the true status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future.”
The spokesperson added: “Comparing the Taiwan question with the Palestinian question is total nonsense and sheer absurdity! In November 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 on the establishment of two states, Palestine and Israel. Israel was established in 1948, and Palestine declared its statehood in 1988. Currently, 147 UN member states have formally recognised the State of Palestine.
“Regarding the status of Taiwan, in 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. It decides to restore all the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China at the UN and expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan authorities from the UN and all the organisations related to it.”
The previous day, the Embassy spokesperson had noted that: “We strongly oppose any visit to Taiwan by British politicians under any pretext… We urge the British politician concerned to stop emboldening the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces, cease interfering in China’s internal affairs, and refrain from going further down the wrong path.”
Alas, the wrong path is the only one that the cretinous Johnson knows.
The following articles were originally published by Middle East Monitor and on the website of the Chinese Embassy in London.
Boris Johnson says Taiwan has stronger claim to statehood than Palestine, ignoring UK’s colonial legacy
August 7 (Middle East Monitor) – Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has sparked outrage after claiming that Taiwan has a “far more robust” claim to statehood than Palestine, dismissing the UK’s historic responsibility for Palestinian statelessness and misrepresenting norms around international recognition of states.
Speaking at the Ketagalan Forum in Taipei, Johnson criticised the UK government’s plan to formally recognise the State of Palestine in September, arguing that Palestine lacks the institutional and territorial features necessary for statehood. “Taiwan has a recognised government… boundaries that they control… a proper democratic system – none of which you could say, with all due respect, about Palestine,” he insisted.
However, Johnson’s comments contradict the legal and diplomatic realities. As of August 2025, Palestine is recognised by 139 countries, including a majority of UN member states and the overwhelming majority of states in the Global South. By contrast, Taiwan is recognised by just 12 countries, with most of the international community upholding the One-China policy.
In a column for the Daily Mail, Johnson accused UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of capitulating to “Hamas propaganda” and described the move to recognise Palestinian statehood as “craven and pathetic.” He framed the recognition as a “reward” for the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks, alleging that the move would “puff Hamas” and undermine Israel’s war aims.
Yet Johnson’s framing has been criticised for omitting the fact that Palestine’s right to statehood is affirmed in numerous UN resolutions, and that its pursuit of self-determination predates the formation of Hamas in 1987. It has further been pointed out that Israel’s borders remain undefined under international law, as claims to territory beyond the 1967 Green Line have been consistently rejected by the UN Security Council and ruled unlawful by the International Court of Justice.
Palestinians and legal scholars have pointed to Britain’s own colonial history as a direct cause of Palestinian dispossession. Despite being granted the Mandate for Palestine by the League of Nations in 1922 to support the establishment of independent institutions—just as it did in Iraq, Transjordan and elsewhere—Britain blocked Palestinian statehood and instead endorsed the creation of a “Jewish national home” through the Balfour Declaration.
Palestinians view the UK as bearing a direct historical responsibility for creating the conditions that have led to decades of occupation, apartheid, and now genocide in Gaza. Israel’s current war on Gaza has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and is the subject of an active genocide case before the International Court of Justice.
Johnson’s intervention comes amid growing global consensus in favour of Palestinian recognition, with the UK, France and Canada all committing to formal diplomatic recognition unless Israel ends its genocidal assault by September.
The former prime minister’s remarks have been widely condemned as an extension of Britain’s colonial amnesia and a refusal to reckon with its role in Palestinian dispossession.
Embassy Spokesperson on UK Politician’s Erroneous Remarks Regarding Taiwan
August 6 (China Embassy) – Question: According to media reports, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, during his visit to Taiwan, claimed that the Chinese mainland cannot change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and that Taiwan is being “intimidated” by the mainland. He also compared Taiwan to Palestine, expressing opposition to the British government’s intention to recognise the State of Palestine. What is the embassy’s comment?
Embassy spokesperson: In disregard of China’s resolute opposition, this British politician went ahead to visit Taiwan and made highly irresponsible remarks. We strongly condemn this.
There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is the universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm governing international relations. Although the two sides across the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, the fact that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China has never and will not be changed. This is the true status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future.
At present, the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the separatist provocations by the Taiwan authorities. China will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the rest of the country in any way, nor will China tolerate any external attempt to obstruct its complete reunification.
Comparing the Taiwan question with the Palestinian question is total nonsense and sheer absurdity! In November 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 181 on the establishment of two states, Palestine and Israel. Israel was established in 1948, and Palestine declared its statehood in 1988. Currently, 147 UN member states have formally recognised the State of Palestine.
Regarding the status of Taiwan, in 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. It decides to restore all the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China at the UN and expel forthwith the representatives of the Taiwan authorities from the UN and all the organisations related to it. The resolution resolved, once and for all, the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the UN, and precluded any possibility of creating “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”
We urge relevant British politician to stop using the Taiwan issue to stage political shows, stop emboldening the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, cease interfering in China’s internal affairs, and refrain from going further down the wrong path.
Embassy Spokesperson on Media Reports Regarding UK Politician’s Visit to Taiwan
August 5 (China Embassy) – Question: It is reported that former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is visiting Taiwan and has called on Western countries to build economic relations with Taiwan. What is the Embassy’s comment?
Embassy Spokesperson: We strongly oppose any visit to Taiwan by British politicians under any pretext.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Taiwan affairs are purely China’s internal affairs and brook no external interference.
At present, the greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the separatist provocations by the Taiwan authorities. China will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the rest of the country in any way, nor will China tolerate any external attempt to obstruct its complete reunification.
We urge the British politician concerned to stop emboldening the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, cease interfering in China’s internal affairs, and refrain from going further down the wrong path.
I am from Vancouver,Canada and i want to say the British Gov’t has been an Enemy of China going Back to the 1800s and continuing to this day. The British Gov’t got Enemies in all parts of the world because of its interference in other countries internal affairs.
The Problem with Capitalism is that it won’t give up on its Atrocities around the world unless it is Beaten to the Ground !
In the 1940s the Yankees took over from the British in Palestine who at the time lost their welcome from the Israeli Terrorists in Israel who were killing Palestinians from Weapons supplied to them from Britain ! When the Yankees took over Palestine from Britain they were no different than Britain and that continues to this day ! Yankees Go Home !
Boris Johnson is considered an irrelevant clown by most UK citizens, even ignored by his own political party