Former British prime minister Boris Johnson Photo: VCG

During a forum in the island of Taiwan on Tuesday, former British prime minister Boris Johnson made reckless remarks such as "Beijing had engaged in intensified military activities," claiming it an effort to bully Taiwan region into submission. An expert said that in order to justify the treatment afforded to him by Taiwan, Johnson's so-called praise for the island can be seen as a compromise of personal integrity and a detriment to national dignity.

At Ketagalan Forum on Tuesday, Johnson delivered an address, Taiwan regional media outlet CNA reported on Tuesday.

In his speech, Johnson made false claim such as "Beijing had engaged in intensified military activities," claiming it an effort to bully Taiwan region into submission.

He also made empty advocacy such as hope Western countries, including the US, the UK, and Europe "will have the courage to neither retreat or yield to Beijing," but to deepen economic partnerships with the island, according to the report.

This is Johnson's first visit to Taiwan island, during which he also met with Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te, the report said.

The former UK Prime Minister's claims can be seen as a betrayal of integrity, Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

As a former Prime Minister, Johnson's current political influence is markedly limited; his primary motivation for this visit appears to be to secure a financial benefit funded by the DPP, Zheng added.

Following former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo's visit to Taiwan in January of this year, some media outlets reported that a biotech company in Taiwan had "allegedly paid $178,000 to Pompeo in an attempt to strengthen its alliance with the US."

However, when approached for verification regarding this information, the biotech company stated that it was inconvenient to respond.

The DPP's failure in the recent mass recall campaign, coupled with the disarray caused by the trade war with the US, has left them desperately seeking solace and support, looking for candidates to bolster their morale and global visibility.

As of press time, there have been no reports in Taiwan media outlets regarding the financial benefit paid to Johnson by the DPP.