The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons yesterday.
British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the British Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.”
Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations.
Photo courtesy of the British Royal Navy via CNA
Lammy replied yes to both questions.
HMS Spey, a river-class offshore patrol vessel, conducted joint exercises in the East China Sea with Australia, Japan, South Korea and the US, and then traveled through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday last week, the Royal Navy said at the time.
On Monday, HMS Spey rejoined Australia's HMAS Sydney to carry out a freedom of navigation operation in the waters surrounding the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島) in the South China Sea.
In September 2021, HMS Spey and HMS Tamar, another river-class offshore patrol vessel, departed from the UK to begin deployments in the Indo-Pacific region that would last at least five years, Royal Navy reports said.
Before Wednesday last week, HMS Spey was confirmed to have traveled through the Taiwan Strait at least once during its Indo-Pacific deployment, including a transit in the first half of last year.
The Royal Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, left England in late April to begin an operational deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
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