Beijing condemns British warship's transit through Taiwan Strait, calling it a 'provocative act'

BEIJING, June 20 — China’s military today criticised the recent passage of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait, labelling it a deliberate provocation, while Taiwan’s president responded by ordering increased surveillance amid ongoing Chinese military activity.

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory—a claim firmly rejected by Taipei—has ramped up military operations near the island in recent years, including frequent large-scale drills that have raised concerns in Taiwan, the United States, and Japan.

The Royal Navy said its patrol vessel HMS Spey conducted a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait as part of a long-scheduled mission, carried out in full accordance with international law.

While China regards the strait as part of its territorial waters, Taiwan, the U.S., and many of their allies maintain it is an international waterway.

China’s Eastern Theatre Command denounced the British ship’s transit on Wednesday as “public hyping” and said its forces had closely tracked and monitored the vessel.

“The British side has distorted legal interpretations and misled public opinion; its actions are a deliberate attempt to stir up trouble and disrupt stability in the Taiwan Strait,” the command said. “Our troops remain on high alert and will resolutely counter any threats or provocations.”

Taiwan’s government welcomed the British warship’s presence.

“The foreign ministry affirms and welcomes the UK’s concrete actions in upholding freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, reinforcing its stance that the strait is international waters,” the ministry said.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, citing sustained Chinese military activity despite global tensions, instructed defence and intelligence agencies on Wednesday to intensify monitoring efforts.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of “seizing on a hot topic” to gain attention. “No matter what they say or do, it does not change the fact that Taiwan is part of China,” he said.

Earlier today, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported a surge in Chinese military activity near the island over the previous 24 hours, including the movement of 50 aircraft—mainly concentrated in the Taiwan Strait and northern South China Sea—and an additional 24 planes today, among them Su-30 fighter jets.

The last British warship to sail through the Taiwan Strait was HMS Richmond in 2021, during a deployment in the East China Sea en route to Vietnam, when it was shadowed and warned off by the Chinese military.

This latest passage comes as the UK and China attempt to stabilise bilateral ties, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing later this year—marking the first visit by a UK leader since 2018.

U.S. Navy vessels routinely pass through the strait roughly every two months, often accompanied by allied warships. — Reuters