Posted on 06/20/2025 7:40:54 PM PDT by fluorescence
Britain has enraged China by sailing one of its warships through the Taiwan Strait.
HMS Spey, a Royal Navy patrol vessel, sailed through the waterway – which flows between China and Taiwan, and over which Beijing claims sovereignty – on Wednesday.
Taiwan hailed the patrol, the first by a British naval vessel since 2021, as the UK defending freedom of navigation of the Strait in the face of increased Chinese aggression in the region.
A Navy spokesman said the long-planned deployment “took place in full compliance with international law”.
But China’s People’s Liberation Army accused the Navy of trying to “distort legal principles and mislead the public”. It said its actions were “undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait”.
China claims sovereignty over both Taiwan and the Strait, while the government in Taipei considers the waterway to be international waters.
The People’s Liberation Army also said the ship was responsible for “public hyping” and that its forces had been monitoring its movements. “Troops in the theatre are on high alert at all times and will resolutely counter all threats and provocations,” it said.
In contrast, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it “affirms the British side once again taking concrete actions to defend the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait” and “demonstrating its firm position that the Taiwan Strait is international waters”.
Earlier on Friday, Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had detected 50 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around the island between 6am on Thursday and 6am on Friday local time. The ministry also said 46 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering Taiwan’s air defence identification zones.
Another 24 People’s Liberation Army aircraft were detected on Friday morning, including Russian-made Su-30 fighters and the Chinese-made Shaanxi KJ-500
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Is that the one British warship they still have on active duty? I wonder if the Admirals rotate command on it since they have more of them than actual ships.
I am shocked, shocked to find out that today’s Royal Navy actually has a warship.
Out of curiosity I just looked it up. The HMS Spey carries no missiles. It has a single 30mm (1.18 in) cannon and 4 machine guns. That’s it.
So take it easy, ChiComs. This ship is no big deal. Just smile and wave as it passes by. But please don’t mock it. That would be rude.
Guns yes, but any ammunition?
It wouldn’t surprise me if there wasn’t any on board.
I call BS. I can’t believe a British “patrol vessel” made it all the way to China.
I might believe a destroyer or frigate, though, although that’s even a stretch given their range.
No one was “enraged”. Why personalize the reactions of the Chinese dictatorship?
” I just looked it up. The HMS Spey carries no missiles. It has a single 30mm (1.18 in) cannon and 4 machine guns. That’s it.”
I guess the older guys in the British Navy still watch Monty Python reruns.
A 2,000 ton patrol vessel as the first RN ship to pass through the Formosa Strait in four years?
WWII USN Fletcher class destroyers were 2,100 tons and had much more firepower.
I weep for the sad state of the Royal Yacht Club.
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