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South China Sea
ChinaMilitary

South China Sea: British warships ‘didn’t sail near’ Chinese artificial islands

  • HMS Queen Elizabeth avoided direct challenge to Beijing’s territorial claims in the contested waters
  • Source close to the PLA says Chinese military is ‘satisfied’ with Royal Navy’s low-profile activities

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The HMS Queen Elizabeth conducts an exercise with US Navy ships in the South China Sea on Thursday. Photo: Twitter
Minnie Chan
Britain’s HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier and its strike group did not sail near Beijing’s artificial islands when it was in the South China Sea, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
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In doing so, Britain has avoided joining the United States in directly challenging China’s 12-nautical-mile territorial claims in the disputed waters.

The Queen Elizabeth – which is in the region for freedom of navigation exercises and military drills with other countries – entered the contested waters early last week and said on Twitter it had left the South China Sea on Monday and entered the Philippine Sea.

Beijing’s foreign ministry said in a faxed reply to queries on Wednesday that the warships “didn’t enter within 12 nautical miles of Chinese islands in the South China Sea, according to [our] information”.

“China hopes navy vessels of other nations abide by international law when sailing across the South China Sea, respect the rights and sovereignty of the coastal nations, and avoid actions that damage regional peace,” the ministry said.

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British defence sources had told The Guardian newspaper that there were no plans to stage a naval confrontation with China in the South China Sea, after the Chinese military warned against provocation. The British defence ministry did not reply to a request for comment.

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