MICHAEL FALLON, Defence Minister of Britain
“We flew RAF Typhoons through the South China Sea last October and we will exercise that right whenever we have the opportunity to do so...”
BRITAIN plans to send a warship to the disputed South China Sea next year to conduct freedom of navigation exercises, Defence Minister Michael Fallon said on Thursday, a move likely to anger Beijing.
He said Britain would increase its presence in the waters after it sent four fighter planes for joint exercises with Japan in the region last year.
China claims most of the energy-rich sea, where neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
“We hope to send a warship to the region next year. We have not finalised where that deployment will take place, but we won’t be constrained by China from sailing through the South China Sea.
“We have the right of freedom of navigation and we will exercise it,” Fallon said.
The presence of a British vessel threatens to stoke tensions, escalated by Beijing’s naval build-up and its assertive stance.
The comments by Fallon came after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Britain’s two new aircraft carriers would be sent to the region.
Johnson did not specify where the vessels would be sent once operational in 2020, though the presence of such firepower will likely heighten tensions in the region.
China’s construction of islands and military facilities in the disputed sea has stoked international condemnation, amid concern Beijing is seeking to restrict free movement and extend its strategic reach.
Britain’s move could also upset ties between London and Beijing, undermining efforts to shore up what the two governments have called a “golden era” in their relationship as Britain heads towards a divorce with the European Union.
“We flew RAF Typhoons through the South China Sea last October and we will exercise that right whenever we have the opportunity to do so, whenever we have ships or planes in the region,” Fallon said.
The United States estimates that Beijing has added more than 1,300ha on seven features in the South China Sea over the past three years, building runways, ports, aircraft hangars and communications equipment.
To counter the perceived Chinese aggression, the US has conducted regular freedom of navigation exercises that have angered Beijing.
Earlier this month, it sent two bombers over the region, coming just a few months after it sent a warship to carry out a manoeuvring drill within 12 nautical miles of one of China’s artificial islands.
China has repeatedly denounced efforts by countries from outside the region to get involved in the South China Sea dispute.
The South China Sea is expected to dominate a regional security meeting in Manila, the Philippines, next week, where Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet counterparts from Asean countries.
Meeting Asean diplomats in Beijing on Wednesday, Wang told them that both sides must “exclude disturbances on the South China Sea issue and maintain positive momentum”, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Reuters