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UK warship makes rare transit through Taiwan Strait
"After a busy period working with partners and allies in the East China Sea, we are now en route through the Taiwan Strait to visit Vietnam and the Vietnam People's Navy," tweeted HMS Richmond, a frigate deployed with Britain's aircraft carrier strike group.
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People watch from the shore as HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier leaves Portsmouth Naval Base on the south coast of England, on May 1, 2021, to take part in exercises off Scotland before heading to the Indo-Pacific region. The HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier will leave Portsmouth later to take part in exercises off Scotland before heading to the Indo-Pacific region for her first operational deployment. Accompanied by six royal navy ships, a submarine and carrying eight RAF and 10 US jets she will replace HMS Ocean as the fleet flagship. (AFP/Adrian Dennis)
T
he Royal Navy said a British warship was sailing through the Taiwan Strait on Monday, a rare voyage by a non-US military vessel through the sensitive waterway that is likely to strain ties with Beijing.
"After a busy period working with partners and allies in the East China Sea, we are now en route through the Taiwan Strait to visit Vietnam and the Vietnam People's Navy," tweeted HMS Richmond, a frigate deployed with Britain's aircraft carrier strike group.
HMS Richmond had been deployed in the East China Sea taking part in United Nations sanctions enforcement operations against North Korea, Reuters reported.
Local media said it was the first time a British warship had transited through the narrow waterway separating Taiwan and mainland China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying did not offer the usual harsh riposte that follows US missions in the strait, saying only she hoped "relevant countries can do more things that are conducive to enhancing mutual trust between countries and truly maintaining regional peace and stability".
In Taipei, Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng did not comment directly when asked about the British warship, saying he did not know what missions foreign ships in the Taiwan Strait were carrying out.
"When they pass through the Taiwan Strait our nation's military will have a grasp of the situation, but will not interfere," he was quoted by Reuters, adding they keep a close watch on all movements near Taiwan.
