October 4, 2021
2 mins read

Navy frigate’s passage through Taiwan Strait triggers China

“The ship’s presence underlines the U.K.’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, at the heart of which lies the U.K.’s partnership with Vietnam,” said British Embassy in Hanoi in a statement, reported Radio Free Asia…reports Asian Lite News.

British Royal Navy’s frigate Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Richmond reached Vietnam on Friday through Taiwan Strait, on a four-day friendly visit, that has irked China which has condemned the vessel’s passage through the sensitive strait as “a meaningless display of presence with an insidious intention.”

A picture of HMS Richmond arriving at Cam Ranh Bay was posted by the British Envoy to Vietnam.

“The ship’s presence underlines the U.K.’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, at the heart of which lies the U.K.’s partnership with Vietnam,” said British Embassy in Hanoi in a statement, reported Radio Free Asia.

The statement also said that the frigate will conduct “bilateral cooperation activities” with Vietnam.

A few days ago China condemned the frigate passage through the Taiwan Strait, but UK made it clear that Taiwan Strait is part of international waters and free and open Indo-Pacific region.

HMS Richmond also broadcasted its location while passing through the strait. This move seemed to provoke China and it dispatched military units to follow and monitor the frigate’s passage.

The Royal Navy has also deployed two patrol vessels to the Indo-Pacific on a five-year mission to bolster Britain’s presence in the region, reports Radio Free Asia.

Earlier in July, the UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace made his first-ever visit to Vietnam.

Radio Free Asia commented that Hanoi has always been careful not to offend Beijing and the HMS Richmond’s visit is not being featured yet in main official news outlets such as the Nhan Dan (the Communist Party’s mouthpiece) and Quan Doi Nhan Dan (the Vietnamese army’s newspaper).

However, the media outlet said that China’s increasing assertiveness, especially in the South China Sea where the two neighbors have overlapping claims, has led Vietnam to expand its military and strategic cooperation with other nations.

ALSO READ-Navy rescue Phillipino crew of merchant navy suspected to be Covid+

READ MORE-India, Australia ink pact for Navy to Navy talks

Previous Story

EU Army still a pipe dream

Next Story

ECB hints Ashes could be in doubt

Latest from -Top News

Ice cold clash over Indus

New Delhi defends treaty suspension, calls out Pakistan’s “misuse” of global climate platform India has sharply rebuked Pakistan at a United Nations conference in Tajikistan over allegations surrounding the suspension of the

Modi Plants Gift of Courage at Home

During his Kutch visit, PM Modi received Sindoor saplings from brave women of the 1971 war….reports Asian Lite News Marking World Environment Day on June 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a

Mexico Slams U.S. Tariff Hike

Mexico and the United States are partners in a free trade agreement, so from the Mexican government’s perspective, the tariff “has no legal basis.”…reports Asian Lite News Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on

India Ramps Up Security Game with Central Asia

The India-Central Asia Dialogue, launched in January 2019 in Samarkand, serves as a key platform for strengthening ties between India and Central Asia…reports Asian Lite News Foreign Ministers from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,

Bangladesh Islamists Back in the Game

Commissioner Sanaulla stated that Jamaat’s party symbol will be returned following a policy decision made by the EC….reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh’s radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami is expected to have its party
Go toTop

Don't Miss

China all set to build military base in Tajikistan

At present, China has already been running a military base

Biden defends ‘dictator’ remarks on Xi

The President said he expected to meet Xi in the