China issues warning to UK and US over naval ships in Taiwan Strait

China has criticized the US destroyer USS Higgins and British frigate HMS Richmond for their actions in the Taiwan Strait.

On Friday, the HMS Richmond and USS Higgins sailed through the Taiwan Strait, prompting China to order its naval and air forces to monitor and warn the two ships as they passed through the 110-mile passage between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.

Beijing's People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command accused the ships of engaging in "trouble-making and provocation", stating that the actions of the US and UK undermine peace and stability in the region.

Both the UK Ministry of Defence and the US Indo-Pacific Command described the passage as routine, emphasizing that it was conducted in compliance with international law and norms, including freedom of navigation rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The British frigate HMS Richmond, a Type 23 Duke Class vessel deployed in the East China Sea in 2021, and the US destroyer USS Higgins, an Arleigh Burke-class (Flight II) Aegis guided missile destroyer, were the ships involved in the incident.

China's navy also announced that its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, undergoing sea trials, had passed through the strait on the same day. Previously, a Canadian and an Australian warship had also navigated the Taiwan Strait.

The US and its allies, such as Canada, Britain, and France, regularly send ships through the strait, considering it international waters. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and asserts control over the strait as part of its territorial waters.

Amid escalating tensions, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council expressed concerns about China's military actions and warned of a potential invasion. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned China's activities in the South China Sea, particularly its claims over Scarborough Reef, which lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

China's expansive claims in the South China Sea have been a point of contention with neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, due to the strategic importance of the sea for global shipping commerce.