b 9
Strategic Vision vol. 6, no. 31 (February, 2017)
Growing Divisions Long-term impact of Brexit vote threatens to undermine unity in the West Huai-jen Wang
photo: Bulverton British protesters gather outside of the British Parliament in London during a pro-Brexit rally in November, 2016.
O
n June 23, 2016, British citizens made history by casting their votes to leave the European Union (EU). In a surprising and monumental decision, the motion to leave the EU won by 52 percent to 48 percent. The referendum turnout was 71.8 percent, with more than 30 million people voting. Prime Minister David Cameron, who had supported Britain’s membership in the European Union, consequently resigned on July 13, after which
to agree on the terms of the split. May has said that she plans to trigger Article 50 to start the two-year process of Brexit talks by March 2017, and after a phased process of implementation, the UK will fully exit the EU by March 2019. However, no one really knows how the Brexit process will work, because Article 50 was only created in late 2009, and has never been used. Prime Minister May has stated, “we will seek a new
Theresa May, leader of the Conservative Party, became prime minister. In order to leave the EU, the UK has to invoke an agreement called Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which grants both sides two years
and equal partnership between an independent, selfgoverning Global Britain and our friends and allies in the EU.” The impact of Brexit will not only affect the European balance of power, but also the global
Huai-jen Wang is a commander in the ROC Navy and a PhD student at the ROC National Defense University in Taipei. He can be reached for comment at wanghuaijen@gmail.com