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The Sun
2 hours ago
- 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
2 hours ago
- 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.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Taiwan to hold recall election for lawmakers that could reshape parliament
FILE PHOTO: Legislators are seen inside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, Taiwan May 17, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/ File Photo Taiwan to hold recall election for lawmakers that could reshape parliament TAIPEI - Taiwan will hold a recall vote for around one quarter of parliament's lawmakers - all from the main opposition party - next month, the election commission said on Friday, a move which could see the ruling party take back control of the legislature. While Lai Ching-te won the presidency last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its parliamentary majority, leaving the Kuomintang (KMT) and the much smaller Taiwan People's Party with the most seats. The KMT and the TPP have passed a series of measures, including swingeing budget cuts, angering the DPP, though the campaigns to gather enough signatures for the recalls were led by civic groups. The opposition has 62 of parliament's 113 seats and the DPP holds the remaining 51. The recall votes for 24 KMT lawmakers will take place on July 26, the election commission said. The DPP has given full support for the recalls, releasing a video this week calling on people to vote yes and "oppose the communists" - a direct reference to China and what the party says is the opposition's dangerous cosying up to Beijing. The KMT has vowed to fight what it calls a "malicious recall" that comes so soon after the last parliamentary election in January 2024. "The KMT calls on the people of Taiwan to oppose the green communists and fight against dictatorship, and vote 'no'," the party said in a statement after the recall vote was announced, referring to the DPP's party colours. The KMT says its engagement with China, which views separately-governed Taiwan as its own territory, is needed to keep channels of communication open and reduce tensions. China has rejected multiple offers of talks from Lai, branding him a "separatist", and has increased military pressure against the island. Recall campaigns against DPP lawmakers failed to gather enough valid signatures. For the recalls to be successful, the number of votes approving the measure must be more than those opposing it, and also exceed one-quarter of the number of registered voters in the constituency, so turnout will be important. If the recall votes are successful, there will be by-elections later this year to select new lawmakers. Taiwan's next parliamentary and presidential elections are not scheduled until early 2028. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
China angered by British warship sailing as Taiwan raises alert level
China's military has criticized the British warship's passage through the Taiwan Strait, deeming it a deliberate attempt to destabilize the region. Taiwan welcomed the British action, asserting the strait's status as international waters. Amidst rising tensions, Taiwan's president has ordered heightened monitoring of Chinese military activities, while China maintains its claim over Taiwan. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 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 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 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 considers the strait to be Chinese waters, although Taiwan, the United States and many of its allies say it is an international 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
China slams British warship's recent passage as 'intentional provocation'
HMS Spey transited the Taiwan strait for the first time in four years on Wednesday - but the Chinese military called the operation an 'intentional provocation' that threatens regional peace China's military has lashed out at the UK after British warship HMS Spey sailed through the Taiwan Strait this week, calling the move an "intentional provocation" that threatens regional peace. The Royal Navy said Wednesday's patrol was part of a long-planned deployment and fully compliant with international law. It marked the first time a British naval vessel has transited the strait in four years. But Beijing, which considers self-governed Taiwan part of its territory, sharply criticised the 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, with its foreign ministry calling it a move that upheld the freedom of navigation in the highly contested waterway. 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. Cross-strait tensions have escalated significantly since Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te took office earlier this year. An outspoken critic of Beijing, Lai 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.
