Britain's amphibious transport vessel HMS Albion docks at a port in Ho Chi Minh in September during a four-day visit to Vietnam. According to media reports that month, the ship was confronted by Chinese military while exercising “her rights for freedom of navigation” in late August close to the Chinese-occupied Paracel Islands. Photo: EPA-EFE Britain's amphibious transport vessel HMS Albion docks at a port in Ho Chi Minh in September during a four-day visit to Vietnam. According to media reports that month, the ship was confronted by Chinese military while exercising “her rights for freedom of navigation” in late August close to the Chinese-occupied Paracel Islands. Photo: EPA-EFE
Britain's amphibious transport vessel HMS Albion docks at a port in Ho Chi Minh in September during a four-day visit to Vietnam. According to media reports that month, the ship was confronted by Chinese military while exercising “her rights for freedom of navigation” in late August close to the Chinese-occupied Paracel Islands. Photo: EPA-EFE
Mark J. Valencia
Opinion

Opinion

Mark J. Valencia

A new British naval base in Southeast Asia could stoke resentment, split Asean and put the UK in China’s cross hairs

  • Mark J. Valencia says Britain’s ambition to project post-Brexit global influence and join the US in containing China may have consequences London isn’t prepared for

Mark J. Valencia
Mark J. Valencia

Updated: 7:10pm, 11 Jan, 2019

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Britain's amphibious transport vessel HMS Albion docks at a port in Ho Chi Minh in September during a four-day visit to Vietnam. According to media reports that month, the ship was confronted by Chinese military while exercising “her rights for freedom of navigation” in late August close to the Chinese-occupied Paracel Islands. Photo: EPA-EFE Britain's amphibious transport vessel HMS Albion docks at a port in Ho Chi Minh in September during a four-day visit to Vietnam. According to media reports that month, the ship was confronted by Chinese military while exercising “her rights for freedom of navigation” in late August close to the Chinese-occupied Paracel Islands. Photo: EPA-EFE
Britain's amphibious transport vessel HMS Albion docks at a port in Ho Chi Minh in September during a four-day visit to Vietnam. According to media reports that month, the ship was confronted by Chinese military while exercising “her rights for freedom of navigation” in late August close to the Chinese-occupied Paracel Islands. Photo: EPA-EFE
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Mark J. Valencia

Mark J. Valencia

Dr Mark J. Valencia is an internationally known maritime policy analyst, political commentator and consultant focused on Asia. He is the author or editor of some 15 books and more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles. Currently he is adjunct senior scholar at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.