A British Royal Navy patrol ship has passed through the Taiwan Strait, a naval spokesman said, adding that the passage did not violate international law, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
“The routine navigation of the “Spey“ through the Taiwan Strait was long-planned and took place in full compliance with international law“, the spokesman said.
Although the British Ministry of Defense did not say when the passage took place, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said it took place on Wednesday.
“The Foreign Ministry welcomes and confirms that the British side has once again taken decisive action to protect freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating the firm position that these are international waters“, the ministry said.
The Chinese armed forces condemned the passage of the vessel as a “deliberate attempt to stir up trouble“, adding that it undermined peace and stability in the region.
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army said the ship's passage on Wednesday was “public advertisement“ and that its forces had been monitoring and observing “Spey“.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, maintains that the strategic waterway is its territory. The Taiwanese administration, which rejects Beijing's sovereignty over the island, claims that it is international waters.
The last British ship to pass through the strait was “Richmond“, which was deployed in the East China Sea in 2021 and headed for Vietnam. Chinese forces then followed and diverted it.
The current passage through the disputed waters comes as Britain and China seek to mend ties, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing later this year - the first visit by a British leader since 2018.
American warships transit the strait about once every two months, sometimes accompanied by vessels from allied nations.