Britain’s Royal Navy challenges Beijing’s ‘excessive claims’ as HMS Albion sails close to disputed South China Sea islands
Vessel passes by Paracel Islands en route for Vietnam in ‘freedom of navigation’ gesture
A British Royal Navy warship sailed close to islands claimed by China in the South China Sea as it headed towards Vietnam, asserting “freedom of navigation” rights and challenging Beijing’s “excessive claims” in the region, two sources said.
The HMS Albion, a 22,000-tonne amphibious warfare ship carrying a contingent of Royal Marines, passed by the Paracel Islands in recent days, said sources, who were familiar with the matter but who asked not to be identified.
The Albion was on its way to Ho Chi Minh City, where it docked on Monday following a deployment in and around Japan.
One of the sources said Beijing dispatched a frigate and two helicopters to challenge the British vessel, but both sides remained calm during the encounter.
The other source said the Albion did not enter the territorial seas around any features in the hotly disputed region but demonstrated that Britain does not recognise excessive maritime claims around the Paracel Islands. Twelve nautical miles is an internationally recognised territorial limit.
The Paracels are occupied entirely by mainland China but also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
A spokesman for the Royal Navy said: “HMS Albion exercised her rights for freedom of navigation in full compliance with international law and norms.”
Neither China’s Foreign nor Defence Ministries immediately responded to a request for comment from Reuters.