China Condemns UK's HMS Spey Passage in Taiwan Strait as Provocation

Mon Oct 20 2025 18:21:14 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Beijing labels the British warship's transit a threat to regional stability, while the UK asserts it's part of a lawful mission.

China has voiced strong disapproval of the UK's HMS Spey maneuver through the Taiwan Strait, deeming it a deliberate action that jeopardizes peace in the area. The British Royal Navy defends the mission as legally sanctioned and part of a scheduled patrol, marking a significant naval presence in the Indo-Pacific.

China's military has criticized a British warship's recent navigation through the Taiwan Strait, labeling it an intentional provocation that jeopardizes regional stability. The British Royal Navy defended HMS Spey's patrol, asserting that it was part of a coordinated deployment in accord with international law. This patrol marks Britain's first naval action in the strait in four years, coinciding with the arrival of the UK's carrier strike group in the Indo-Pacific for several months.

Chinese naval officials expressed discontent over the Royal Navy's publicization of HMS Spey’s journey, dismissing the UK's narrative as a distortion of legal perspectives designed to mislead the public. They conveyed that such movements disrupt peace in the Taiwan Strait, affirming that China is prepared to counter any threats.

Responding to the situation, Taiwan's foreign ministry commended the British mission as a crucial safeguard for free navigation in the region. Notably, while American naval forces typically conduct operations within the strait, the last British transit was executed by HMS Richmond in 2021, which also faced Chinese condemnation.

HMS Spey, part of two British warships stationed permanently in the Indo-Pacific, enters the region as the UK's carrier strike group, led by the HMS Prince of Wales, begins its extensive deployment intended to reinforce alliances and showcase military capability. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled this operation one of the most significant deployments in recent years.

This display of naval strength comes amid heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, largely influenced by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, known for his opposition to Beijing's claims over the island. Concurrently, China has been conducting military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, including substantial drills simulating attacks on crucial infrastructure.

As the global political landscape shifts, China's recent military maneuvers, including a simultaneous exercise with two aircraft carriers near Japan, are heightening regional anxieties and attracting international attention.