Latest news with #TaiwanGovernment
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
China and Britain clash after UK warship patrols disputed waters
China 's military has sharply criticised the passage of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait, labelling it a deliberate attempt to "cause trouble", as Taiwan's president ordered heightened surveillance in response to Beijing's military activities. The Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army condemned the HMS Spey's Wednesday sailing as "public hyping", stating that its forces closely followed and monitored the patrol vessel. Beijing asserts that the narrow waterway, which separates mainland China from Taiwan, constitutes Chinese waters. In contrast, Britain's Royal Navy maintained that the HMS Spey's transit was a "routine navigation" conducted as part of a "long-planned deployment" and "in full compliance with international law". This stance aligns with Taiwan, the United States, and many of their allies, who contend that the strait is an international waterway. China, however, views Taiwan as its own territory, further complicating the legal and political status of the strait. "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. China has over the past five years stepped up its drills around Taiwan, including staging war games that have alarmed Taipei, Washington and Tokyo. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Thursday ordered defence and security units to step up their monitoring and intelligence efforts in response to China's military activities, which he said have not abated even as tensions rise in the Middle East. On Friday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry reported another spike in Chinese movements close to the island over the previous 24 hours, involving 50 aircraft, concentrated in the strait and the top part of the South China Sea. The last time a British warship sailed through the strait was in 2021, when HMS 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 at a time when Britain and China are seeking to mend their relations, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing later this year - the first trip to the country by a British leader since 2018. U.S. Navy ships sail through the strait around once every two months, sometimes accompanied by allied nations.
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Beijing blasts British warship's Taiwan Strait passage as ‘troublemaking'
BEIJING, June 20 — China's military criticised today 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 yesterday 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. This 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 today, 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. US Navy ships sail through the strait around once every two months, sometimes accompanied by those of allied nations. — Reuters
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
UK warship defies Chinese warnings to patrol disputed waters
China 's military has sharply criticised the passage of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait, labelling it a deliberate attempt to "cause trouble", as Taiwan's president ordered heightened surveillance in response to Beijing's military activities. The Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army condemned the HMS Spey's Wednesday sailing as "public hyping", stating that its forces closely followed and monitored the patrol vessel. Beijing asserts that the narrow waterway, which separates mainland China from Taiwan, constitutes Chinese waters. In contrast, Britain's Royal Navy maintained that the HMS Spey's transit was a "routine navigation" conducted as part of a "long-planned deployment" and "in full compliance with international law". This stance aligns with Taiwan, the United States, and many of their allies, who contend that the strait is an international waterway. China, however, views Taiwan as its own territory, further complicating the legal and political status of the strait. "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. China has over the past five years stepped up its drills around Taiwan, including staging war games that have alarmed Taipei, Washington and Tokyo. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Thursday ordered defence and security units to step up their monitoring and intelligence efforts in response to China's military activities, which he said have not abated even as tensions rise in the Middle East. On Friday morning, Taiwan's defence ministry reported another spike in Chinese movements close to the island over the previous 24 hours, involving 50 aircraft, concentrated in the strait and the top part of the South China Sea. The last time a British warship sailed through the strait was in 2021, when HMS 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 at a time when Britain and China are seeking to mend their relations, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing later this year - the first trip to the country by a British leader since 2018.
Reuters
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
China condemns British warship's 'troublemaking' Taiwan Strait transit
BEIJING, June 20 (Reuters) - China's military on Friday condemned the sailing of a British warship through the Taiwan Strait as a deliberate attempt to "cause trouble", saying it undermined peace and stability in the region. Britain's Royal Navy said the patrol vessel HMS Spey conducted a routine navigation through the narrow waterway that was part of a long-planned deployment and took place in full compliance with international law. China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, considers the strait to be Chinese waters. Taiwan, the United States and many of its allies say it is an international waterway. The Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army said the Wednesday sailing of the ship was "public hyping" and 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. The last time a British warship sailed through the strait was in 2021, when HMS 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 at a time when Britain and China are seeking to mend their relations, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer expected to visit Beijing later this year - the first trip to the country by a British leader since 2018. U.S. Navy ships sail through the strait around once every two months, sometimes accompanied by allied nations.
CNA
08-06-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Taiwan coast guard, military drill to better face China's 'grey zone' threat
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: Taiwan's coast guard held drills with the military on Sunday (Jun 8) to better practice joint operations in the face of what the government in Taipei says is a growing "grey zone" threat from China, which claims the island as its own territory. Democratically governed Taiwan has repeatedly complained about activities such as undersea cable cutting and sand dredging by China around the island, designed to pressure it without direct confrontation. It is often Taiwan's coast guard that scrambles first to respond. The drills in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, overseen by President Lai Ching-te, simulated the seizing of a ferry by "international terrorists". The coast guard worked with an interior ministry rescue helicopter and army medevac helicopter to board and take back control of the boat and evacuate casualties. A navy anti-submarine helicopter flew over the scene as the drill ended, along with the medevac and rescue helicopters, the first time they have flown together in such a scenario, the coast guard said. "Taiwan has been facing constant grey intrusion from China, but our coast guard colleagues have always been on the front line to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of the people of Taiwan," Lai told the audience for the drills, which included the top US diplomat in Kaohsiung, Neil Gibson. "The government will continue to consolidate the strength of all departments and strengthen the resilience of the entire society to defend national security and safeguard Taiwan's democracy and freedom," Lai said. Taiwan's coast guard, which would be pressed into military service in the event of war with China, is also routinely sent out to shadow Chinese ships during Beijing's war games around the island. The coast guard, like the navy, is in the midst of an expansion and modernisation programme. Its new Anping-class corvettes, which began being commissioned in 2020, are based on the navy's Tuo Chiang-class warships. They are state-of-the-art, highly manoeuvrable stealth vessels meant to take out larger warships while operating close to Taiwan's shores. The Anping-class ships, one of which took part in the drill, have space for launchers for the Taiwan-made Hsiung Feng anti-ship and sea-to-land missiles, as well as added equipment for rescue operations.
