Latest news with #TaiwanStrait
Reuters
an hour 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.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
US mainstay of Taiwan Strait patrols, the P-8, in spotlight at Paris Air Show
The US has highlighted its freedom of navigation operations at the Paris Air Show , with a display of the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft deployed in the Taiwan Strait and other geopolitical flashpoints. Advertisement US Navy mission commander Lieutenant Joseph Pitts, who captains a P-8 patrol plane, told reporters that freedom of navigation within international waters was at the core of his aircraft's mission set. 'We ensure that the international laws are being upheld, and that's kind of our primary mission whenever we're operating within all the AORs [area of responsibility],' he said in response to the South China Morning Post's inquiry about the P-8's role in the region. Pitts said he had been posted in 'pretty much every fleet [and] a little bit all over the world', including with the seventh fleet that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. Most recently, he was based in Japan. The deployment of the P-8 by US allies was helping to boost interoperability, he said. 'And especially the fellow P-8 platforms, helping, working with them, see what's the best way to operate this aircraft in the best state there could be.' Advertisement The Boeing P-8 is also used for anti-submarine and surface warfare missions. It is armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and sonobuoys – which are dropped from aircraft or ships to detect and track submarines and underwater threats.
Reuters
11 hours ago
- General
- Reuters
UK Royal Navy vessel sails through Taiwan Strait
LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - A British Royal Navy vessel sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, a Navy spokesperson said, saying the passage was in full compliance with international law. "HMS Spey's routine navigation through the Taiwan Strait was part of a long-planned deployment and took place in full compliance with international law," the spokesperson 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.
South China Morning Post
15 hours ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
US mainstay of Taiwan Strait patrols the P-8 in spotlight at Paris Air Show
The US has highlighted its freedom of navigation operations at the Paris Air Show , with a display of the Poseidon P-8 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft deployed in the Taiwan Strait and other geopolitical flashpoints. US Navy mission commander Lieutenant Joseph Pitts, who captains a P-8 patrol plane, told reporters that freedom of navigation within international waters was at the core of his aircraft's mission set. 'We ensure that the international laws are being upheld, and that's kind of our primary mission whenever we're operating within all the AORs [area of responsibility],' he said in response to the South China Morning Post's inquiry about the P-8's role in the region. Pitts said he had been posted in 'pretty much every fleet [and] a little bit all over the world', including with the seventh fleet that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. Most recently, he was based in Japan. The deployment of the P-8 by US allies was helping to boost interoperability, he said. 'And especially the fellow P-8 platforms, helping, working with them, see what's the best way to operate this aircraft in the best state there could be.' The Boeing P-8 is also used for anti-submarine and surface warfare missions. It is armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and sonobuoys – which are dropped from aircraft or ships to detect and track submarines and underwater threats.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
The Main Conference of the 17th Straits Forum Inaugurated in Xiamen, Fujian
XIAMEN, China, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 15, the Main Conference of the 17th Straits Forum was held in Xiamen, Fujian province. Since its launch in 2009, with the mission to strengthen exchanges between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the forum has rolled out nearly 800 activities, attracting more than 350,000 participants, including more than 140,000 Taiwan compatriots. This year, the forum continued the theme of 'expanding people-to-people bonds and deepening integrated development' and the positioning of 'non-governmental, grassroots, and extensive,' featuring 56 activities. Apart from the main conference, there are exchanges in 4 areas, namely primary-level, youth, culture, and economy, drawing the attendance of over 7,000 people from all walks of life in Taiwan. At present, Fujian is designing multiple policies to make the province a 'preferred destination' for Taiwanese and their businesses in the mainland, including building a cross-strait integrated development demonstration zone, deepening the cooperation between Fujian and Taiwan in the service industry, facilitating agriculture, forestry, and fishery enterprises oriented to the Taiwan market, and supporting Taiwan compatriots in Fujian. Source: The Organizing Committee of the 17th Straits Forum A photo accompanying this announcement is available at Contact person: Mr. Lin, Tel: 86-10-63074558.
