The British Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey sailed through the Taiwan Strait on June 18 in a routine navigation operation fully compliant with international law, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed—marking the first UK transit through the strait since 2021.
At a Glance
- Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the UK’s transit, calling it “concrete action” supporting freedom of navigation
- The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed the patrol was lawful and planned
- HMS Spey is the first British warship to transit the strait since HMS Richmond in 2021
- China claims jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait and typically protests such passages
- Taiwan reiterated that the strait constitutes international waters under global maritime law
Upholding Free Passage
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially welcomed the transit, describing it as a demonstration of the UK’s commitment to freedom of navigation and international maritime law. The British Office in Taipei echoed this message, noting the operation supported peace and stability in the region, as reported by Taipei Times.
Strengthening FONOP Patterns
The UK’s move aligns with a growing pattern of Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the Taiwan Strait by Western navies. The passage by HMS Spey, following recent transits by U.S. and Canadian vessels, underscores the increasing international pushback against Chinese territorial claims, according to Reuters.
Chinese Objections Anticipated
While China has yet to issue an official protest, it consistently condemns such naval operations, asserting that they infringe on its sovereignty. Beijing has labeled similar past passages by Canadian and U.S. ships as “provocative.” In contrast, Taiwan maintains that the Taiwan Strait remains international waters under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as detailed by MarketScreener.
As tensions continue to rise in the Indo-Pacific, the Royal Navy’s transit underscores the evolving geopolitical landscape—and raises new questions about NATO’s future role in upholding international navigation rights in contested waters.
