A British Royal Navy vessel has conducted a patrol through the contested Taiwan Strait, prompting sharp criticism from China’s military, which branded the move a provocation designed to stir instability in the region.
The incident has heightened tensions in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive waterways.
HMS Spey, a River-class offshore patrol vessel, sailed through the strait on Wednesday as part of what the UK Ministry of Defence described as a routine and long-planned deployment.
The Royal Navy maintains that the transit adhered fully to international maritime law, reinforcing the position held by Britain, the United States, Taiwan, and many allies that the Taiwan Strait constitutes international waters.
In contrast, China regards the strait as part of its sovereign territory and denounced the warship’s passage as a deliberate act to provoke and disrupt regional peace.
The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command reported that Chinese forces monitored and tracked the UK vessel throughout its journey, accusing Britain of distorting legal principles and escalating tensions.
Taiwan’s government welcomed the British patrol, viewing it as a meaningful demonstration of support for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific. Taipei continues to push back against Beijing’s increasingly assertive military presence, which has intensified over the past five years.
In response to the recent surge in Chinese military activity, including large-scale air and naval drills near Taiwanese territory, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has ordered heightened surveillance and intelligence operations.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence reported that 50 Chinese military aircraft were active near the island over a 24-hour period, many concentrated in the Taiwan Strait and northern South China Sea.
This latest deployment marks the first time a British warship has sailed through the strait since HMS Richmond’s passage in 2021, which was also shadowed and challenged by Chinese forces. The current operation comes at a delicate diplomatic moment, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing later this year—marking the first official visit by a UK leader to China since 2018.
While the United States conducts regular freedom of navigation transits through the Taiwan Strait—typically every two months—such operations by British or European naval forces remain less frequent. Nevertheless, these missions underscore the growing international concern over regional security and the importance of maintaining open sea routes in accordance with international law.
