A British Royal Navy warship has challenged China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea by sailing close to the Paracel Islands, according to reports. The HMS Albion, a 22,000-ton amphibious warship carrying Royal Marines, exercised its freedom of navigation rights near the disputed islands last month.
China responded by dispatching a frigate and two helicopters to confront the vessel, though both sides remained calm during the encounter. The Albion did not enter the territorial seas around any features, but demonstrated that Britain does not recognise excessive maritime claims in the region.
Beijing reacted angrily, accusing Britain of provocation and saying it had lodged a strong complaint. China’s foreign ministry stated that the ship had entered Chinese territorial waters without permission on 31 August, and urged Britain to stop such actions to avoid harming bilateral relations and regional stability.
The Royal Navy spokesman confirmed that HMS Albion exercised her rights in full compliance with international law. The incident comes after the US called for more international participation in freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, where around $3 trillion of trade passes annually.
