British Naval Presence in Taiwan Strait: Navigating Diplomatic Waters

A British Royal Navy vessel, HMS Spey, conducted a routine passage through the Taiwan Strait, adhering to international law. This move, part of a planned deployment, comes amid efforts to improve UK-China relations, with British PM Keir Starmer planning a historic visit to Beijing.

A British Royal Navy patrol vessel, identified as HMS Spey, has made a strategic passage through the Taiwan Strait, a crucial maritime route, the Navy announced on Thursday. Official statements confirm that the navigation adhered strictly to international law.

The HMS Spey's journey was a component of a premeditated deployment, reinforcing the UK's naval presence in the region. The last British warship to traverse these waters was HMS Richmond in 2021, eliciting a shadowing response from Chinese military forces at the time.

This passage occurs in a period marked by efforts to rejuvenate UK-China diplomatic ties. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is slated for a landmark visit to Beijing later this year, the first since 2018.

(With inputs from agencies.)