London: China has denounced a UK warship patrol in the Taiwan Strait as a disruptive move that threatens peace and regional stability. The British Royal Navy has confirmed that HMS Spey’s passage on June 18 is part of a long-planned deployment aligned with international law.
This marks the first time in four years that a British naval vessel has conducted such a transit. The patrol coincides with the arrival of a UK carrier strike group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, in the Indo-Pacific for an eight-month mission.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force for reunification. It has accused the UK of hyping HMS Spey’s journey and distorting legal facts to mislead public perception. Chinese forces have monitored the patrol closely and stated they stand ready to counter any threats and provocations.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry has welcomed the UK warship patrol, describing it as a move that supports freedom of navigation. While US warships routinely conduct similar operations, Britain last sent HMS Richmond through the strait in 2021, which also drew condemnation from China.
HMS Spey is one of two British ships on constant patrol in the Indo-Pacific. Its passage comes as about four thousand UK military personnel deploy across the region to strengthen defense ties. The carrier strike group plans exercises with the United States, India, Singapore and Malaysia, aiming to engage with thirty countries in total.
Rising tensions across the strait follow Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te’s firm anti-Beijing policies and China’s frequent military drills nearby. In April, China staged live-fire exercises simulating strikes on ports and energy sites.
China’s latest rebuke of the UK warship patrol aligns with its broader concerns over Western military presence near its waters, especially as two Chinese aircraft carriers conduct a simultaneous drill off Japan’s coast.
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