Former AUS PM makes surprise visit to Taiwan

Australia’s former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has made a surprise trip to Taiwan, as tensions with Beijing reach record highs

A spokesperson for the former leader says Abbott will attend the regional forum and speak on Friday – an event that is coordinated by the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation.

Taiwan’s most senior figures including the president, foreign minister and secretary-general of the national security council will all be in attendance.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s ministry of foreign affairs says it “warmly welcomes” Abbott… who is an invitee to the event.

This follows another former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull speaking at the same forum back in 2020.

Abbott’s spokesperson has confirmed that he will quarantine for 14 days upon his return to Australia, but he does not need to isolate in Taiwan due to a “diplomatic bubble”.

Tensions between China and Taiwan are also at an all-time high at the moment, with Beijing recently deploying record numbers of warplanes into the island’s airspace.