UK Destroyer Passes Through Taiwan Strait, China Strongly Protests... Tensions Rise After 'AUKUS' Launch

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Since the launch of AUKUS, the new security alliance between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, a British warship clashed with China while passing through the Taiwan Strait.

According to foreign media on the 27th (local time), the British destroyer HMS Richmond passed through the Taiwan Strait on the 26th to sail to Vietnam. During this process, the Chinese People's Liberation Army tracked the British warship passing through the Taiwan Strait and issued a warning. The UK deployed the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Indo-Pacific and conducted joint exercises with the US Marines in the Philippine Sea.

The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army stated, "We mobilized the air force and navy to send a warning to the British vessel," and raised their voice, saying, "They harbor malicious intentions and undermine the stability and peace of the Taiwan Strait." They also declared that they would firmly respond to all threats and provocations.

Taiwan remained reserved regarding this clash. Taiwan's Minister of National Defense, Chiu Kuo-cheng, avoided answering by saying, "We do not know what mission foreign vessels are carrying out in the Taiwan Strait."

Minister Chiu added, "Our military will assess the situation but will not interfere," and mentioned, "We are closely monitoring all movements around Taiwan."

The HMS Queen Elizabeth, which passed through the Taiwan Strait, also made a port call in Japan via the South China Sea. The Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group includes two destroyers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.