Latest news with #Spey
Newsweek
4 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
US Allies Challenge Beijing's Claims in Contested South China Sea
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The British and Australian militaries have challenged China's claims over the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea with a "freedom of navigation" operation. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Australian Navy via email for comment outside of office hours. Why It Matters China asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, an archipelago with competing claims by Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. The United States, and increasingly its allies, have stepped up naval transits in disputed areas in recent years to push back against the restrictions on innocent passage imposed by claimant countries. What To Know On Monday, British River-class offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey and Australian Hobart-class guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney "conducted a freedom of navigation activity around the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in accordance with UNCLOS," the United Kingdom's Permanent Joint Headquarters wrote on X (formerly Twitter). China had not publicly commented on the operation as of press time, but it frequently criticizes military activities by "outside countries." A service member of the British Navy looks through binoculars during a "freedom of navigation activity" in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands on June 23, 2025. A service member of the British Navy looks through binoculars during a "freedom of navigation activity" in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands on June 23, 2025. Just days earlier, the Spey passed through another disputed waterway—the Taiwan Strait—amid ongoing tensions between China and the self-ruled democracy of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. Taiwan's foreign ministry thanked the U.K. on X for "standing with Taiwan in support of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific." The Spey, along with its sister ship HMS Tamar, has been permanently based in the Pacific since 2021 as part of London's effort to play a larger role in the region. During U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy's visit to the Philippines in March, he condemned China's "dangerous and destabilizing activities" in the South China Sea. China's territorial dispute with the Philippines has been particularly fierce in recent years as Chinese maritime forces expand into the U.S. defense treaty ally's exclusive economic zone. In 2016, a Hague-based arbitral tribunal ruled in favor of Manila and dismissed China's claims within the Philippines' maritime zone, citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Beijing maintains the decision is invalid. The most recent U.S. Navy ship to pass near the Spratly Islands was the USS Dewey, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, on May 12. What People Are Saying China's embassy in the U.K. responded to U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy's remark in March: "As a country outside the region, the U.K. should respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, and the efforts of regional countries to maintain peace and stability. "We urge the U.K. to stop heightening antagonism and sowing discord, and stop any words and deeds that undermine regional peace and stability." What Happens Next The U.K. and Australia are likely to continue conducting periodic "freedom of navigation" activities in the South China Sea as well as the Taiwan Strait.
MTV Lebanon
20-06-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
20 Jun 2025 10:42 AM China sends scores of warplanes toward Taiwan
China sent 74 warplanes toward Taiwan between late Thursday and early Friday, 61 of which crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that unofficially divides the sides, an unusually large number as tensions remained heightened in the region. It wasn't clear why so many planes were scrambled between late Thursday and early Friday, as tabulated by Taiwan's Defense Ministry. The planes were sent in two separate tranches, it added. China considers Taiwan its own territory and uses such deployments to advertise its threat to encircle and possibly invade the self-governing island. China also hopes to intimidate Taiwan's population of 23 million and wear down its equipment and the morale of its armed forces. On Thursday, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs 'confirmed and welcomed' the transit of the British Royal Navy's off-shore patrol craft HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait a day earlier. The ship's transit, the ministry said, 'once again (reaffirmed the Strait's) status as international waters.' 'Such transits by the U.K. and other like-minded countries are encouraged to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific,' the Foreign Ministry said. Britain's representative office in Taipei said in a statement that the Spey had conducted a navigation of the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law and rights provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 'Wherever the Royal Navy operates, it does so in full compliance with international law and exercises its right to Freedom of Navigation and overflight,' the statement added. China responded angrily, saying the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army 'organized troops to monitor and guard the entire process and effectively responded and dealt with it.' The British ship's action 'deliberately disturbed the situation and undermined the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,' the Eastern Theater Command said in a statement. The bustling Taiwan Strait lies in international waters, but China objects to any transit or activity within it by foreign military vessels. It wasn't clear if the large number of Chinese warplanes sent on Thursday and Friday were related to the earlier sailing of the British ship. Six military ships accompanied the Chinese planes, which ranged from drones to fighter jets and early warning and other support aircraft. Taiwan deployed ships, fighter interceptors and land-based missile systems in response.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
China angered by British warship sailing as Taiwan raises alert level
BEIJING: China's military criticised on Friday the sailing of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait as a deliberate attempt to 'cause trouble', while Taiwan's president ordered monitoring stepped up in response to Chinese military activities. China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, though Taipei rejects that claim, has stepped up drills around the island over the past five years, including staging war games that have alarmed Taiwan, Washington and Tokyo. Britain's Royal Navy said its patrol vessel Spey made a routine navigation through the narrow waterway as part of a long-planned deployment and in full compliance with international law. China considers the strait to be Chinese waters, although Taiwan, the United States and many of its allies say it is an international waterway. The Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said the Wednesday sailing of the ship was 'public hyping', adding that its forces followed and monitored the Spey. 'The British side's remarks distort legal principles and mislead the public; its actions deliberately cause trouble and disrupt things, undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,' it said in a statement. 'Troops in the theatre are on high alert at all times and will resolutely counter all threats and provocations.' Taiwan's government welcomed the sailing. 'The foreign ministry welcomes and affirms the British side once again taking concrete actions to defend the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating its firm position that the Taiwan Strait is international waters,' the ministry said in a statement. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te ordered defence and security units on Thursday to step up their monitoring and intelligence efforts in response to China's military activities, which he said had not abated even as tension rose in the Middle East. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was trying to 'latch onto a hot topic'. 'No matter what they say or do, it cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China,' he added. On Friday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry reported another spike over the previous 24 hours in Chinese movements close to the island, involving 50 aircraft, concentrated in the strait and the top part of the South China Sea. The ministry reported 24 more Chinese aircraft in Taiwan's vicinity on Friday, including Su-30 fighter jets. A British warship last sailed through the strait in 2021, when the Richmond was deployed in the East China Sea en route to Vietnam. Chinese military followed it at the time and warned it away. The latest passage comes as Britain and China look to mend ties, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing this year on the first trip by a British leader since 2018.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
China condemns British warship in Taiwan strait passage
BEIJING: China's military criticised on Friday the sailing of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait as a deliberate attempt to 'cause trouble', while Taiwan's president ordered monitoring stepped up in response to Chinese military activities. China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, though Taipei rejects that claim, has stepped up drills around the island over the past five years, including staging war games that have alarmed Taiwan, Washington and Tokyo. Britain's Royal Navy said its patrol vessel Spey made a routine navigation through the narrow waterway as part of a long-planned deployment and in full compliance with international law. China considers the strait to be Chinese waters, although Taiwan, the United States and many of its allies say it is an international waterway. The Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said the Wednesday sailing of the ship was 'public hyping', adding that its forces followed and monitored the Spey. 'The British side's remarks distort legal principles and mislead the public; its actions deliberately cause trouble and disrupt things, undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,' it said in a statement. 'Troops in the theatre are on high alert at all times and will resolutely counter all threats and provocations.' Taiwan's government welcomed the sailing. 'The foreign ministry welcomes and affirms the British side once again taking concrete actions to defend the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating its firm position that the Taiwan Strait is international waters,' the ministry said in a statement. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te ordered defence and security units on Thursday to step up their monitoring and intelligence efforts in response to China's military activities, which he said had not abated even as tension rose in the Middle East. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was trying to 'latch onto a hot topic'. 'No matter what they say or do, it cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China,' he added. On Friday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry reported another spike over the previous 24 hours in Chinese movements close to the island, involving 50 aircraft, concentrated in the strait and the top part of the South China Sea. The ministry reported 24 more Chinese aircraft in Taiwan's vicinity on Friday, including Su-30 fighter jets. A British warship last sailed through the strait in 2021, when the Richmond was deployed in the East China Sea en route to Vietnam. Chinese military followed it at the time and warned it away. The latest passage comes as Britain and China look to mend ties, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing this year on the first trip by a British leader since 2018. U.S. Navy ships sail through the strait around once every two months, sometimes accompanied by those of allied nations.
The Star
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
China condemns British warship's 'troublemaking' Taiwan Strait transit
Britain's Royal Navy said the patrol vessel HMS Spey conducted a routine navigation through the narrow waterway that was part of a long-planned deployment. - UK Ministry of Defence via ST/ANN BEIJING/TAIPEI: China's military on Friday (June 20) condemned the sailing of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait as a deliberate attempt to "cause trouble", as Taiwan's president ordered stepped-up monitoring in response to Chinese military activities. Britain's Royal Navy said the patrol vessel HMS Spey conducted a routine navigation through the narrow waterway that was part of a long-planned deployment and took place in full compliance with international law. China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, considers the strait to be Chinese waters. Taiwan, the United States and many of its allies say it is an international waterway. The Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army said the Wednesday sailing of the ship was "public hyping" and that its forces followed and monitored the Spey. "The British side's remarks distort legal principles and mislead the public; its actions deliberately cause trouble and disrupt things, undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," it said in a statement. "Troops in the theatre are on high alert at all times and will resolutely counter all threats and provocations." Taiwan's government welcomed the sailing. "The foreign ministry welcomes and affirms the British side once again taking concrete actions to defend the freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating its firm position that the Taiwan Strait is international waters," the ministry said in a statement. The last time a British warship sailed through the strait was in 2021, when HMS Richmond was deployed in the East China Sea en route to Vietnam. Chinese military followed it at the time and warned it away. The latest passage comes at a time when Britain and China are seeking to mend their relations, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing later this year - the first trip to the country by a British leader since 2018. US Navy ships sail through the strait around once every two months, sometimes accompanied by allied nations. - Reuters
