China's military has expressed strong disapproval of the British warship HMS Spey's recent journey through the Taiwan Strait, describing it as an act of "intentional provocation" that threatens peace and stability in the contested waters. The British Royal Navy characterized the patrol as part of a planned deployment in line with international law. The transit, the first by a British naval vessel in four years, coincides with the arrival of a UK carrier strike group, which will operate in the Indo-Pacific for several months.
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory—a stance that Taiwan vehemently rejects—and it has not excluded possible military action to reunify with the island. Beijing criticized the UK for allegedly amplifying the significance of the HMS Spey’s journey, suggesting that British claims are a "distortion of legal principles" meant to mislead the public. In response to the transit, China stated that its military units were on high alert, prepared to respond to potential threats.
Taiwan's foreign ministry, conversely, lauded the ship's passage as a reinforcing act for freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. While US warships routinely conduct freedom of navigation operations in this area, the last British vessel to navigate the strait was the HMS Richmond in 2021, which also drew Chinese condemnation at the time.
The HMS Spey is one of two British warships that are stationed in the Indo-Pacific continually. Its current passage occurs as the UK deploys the HMS Prince of Wales, an aircraft carrier leading a significant military group comprising around 4,000 personnel. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that this deployment aims to project strength to adversaries, while also conveying a united front to allies.
Tensions between China and Taiwan have intensified over the past year, particularly following the election of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, known for his staunch opposition to Beijing. He has actively characterized China as a "foreign hostile force" and has pursued policies aimed at mitigating Chinese influence within Taiwan.
Meanwhile, China has consistently intensified military activities in the Taiwan Strait, conducting many exercises, including a live-fire operation in April that purportedly simulated strikes on vital ports and energy infrastructures. This latest condemnation of the UK's military presence comes amid reports of two Chinese aircraft carriers engaging in simultaneous drills in the Pacific near Japan, raising concerns in Tokyo about regional security dynamics.
