HMS Spey transited the Taiwan Strait for the first time in four years and sparked a bitter response from the Chinese military – which slammed the operation an ‘intentional provocation’ that threatens regional peace
Tensions are rising shaply in the Taiwan Strait after British warship HMS Spey sailed through the contested waters – sparking a furious response from China‘s military, which branded the move an “intentional provocation” that threatens to destabalise the region.
The Royal Navy said the transit was part of a long-planned patrol and was conducted in line with international law. But the deployment – the first by a British naval vessel through the strait in four years – is unfolding against the backdrop of rapidly escalating military activity in the Indo-Pacific, raising concerns for a growing flashpoint. Beijing, which considers self-governed Taiwan part of its territory, sharply criticised Wednesday’s mission. A spokesperson for China‘s navy accused the UK of “publicly hyping up” HMS Spey’s journey and said its actions distorted legal principles in a bid to mislead the public.
“Such actions are intentional provocations that disrupt the situation and undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the spokesperson said, adding that Chinese forces closely monitored HMS Spey and would “resolutely counter all threats and provocations.”
China’s foreign ministry later echoed the military’s comments, saying that while it respects other countries’ right to sail through the strait, it “firmly opposes any country using the name of freedom of navigation to provoke and threaten China’s sovereign security.”
Taiwan however welcomed the patrol. Its foreign ministry praised the UK’s action as a step to protect vital shipping lanes and uphold the principle of freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most contested regions.
The passage of HMS Spey comes as a UK carrier strike group – led by the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales – begins an eight-month Indo-Pacific deployment. Described by Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “one of the largest this century,” the operation will involve 4,000 UK personnel working alongside 30 countries, including the US, India, Singapore, and Malaysia.
HMS Spey is one of two British warships permanently stationed in the Indo-Pacific. The last time a British vessel transited the Taiwan Strait was in 2021, when HMS Richmond drew similar condemnation from Beijing. At the time, China also deployed military units to shadow the ship’s movement.
The geopolitical climate has grown increasingly volatile in recent months, with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te taking office earlier this year. Lai, an outspoken critic of Beijing, has labelled China a “foreign hostile force” and introduced measures targeting Chinese influence operations.
Meanwhile, China continues to ramp up military pressure in the region. In April, it staged live-fire drills simulating strikes on key ports and energy sites. Most recently, it launched an unprecedented dual aircraft carrier exercise near Japan, sparking concern in Tokyo.