TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tom Tugendhat, a UK parliamentarian and former minister of state for security, is visiting Taiwan from Monday to Wednesday.

During his trip, Tugendhat will meet with National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and attend a luncheon hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu (吳志中), according to the foreign ministry. He will also hold briefing sessions with the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau and Doublethink Lab.

He will hold talks on Taiwan Strait security with The Prospect Foundation, the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, and the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation.

The foreign ministry called Tugendhat “a long-standing and steadfast friend of Taiwan.” This is his second trip to Taiwan.

Last month, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office condemned China’s large-scale military exercise around Taiwan, saying that it raised cross-strait tensions and increased "risk of escalation.” Issues in the Taiwan Strait should be resolved “through constructive dialogue” and “without the threat or use of force or coercion,” the office said.

The UK sent HMS Richmond through the Taiwan Strait, alongside the US guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, in September. The HMS Spey passed through the strait in June.