The Chinese People's Liberation Army stated that on the 12th, US and UK warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, sending the wrong signal and undermining regional peace and stability.
Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said on the evening of the 12th on the official WeChat account that the US destroyer "Higgins" and the British frigate "Richmond" transited through the Taiwan Strait that day and engaged in provocative activities. The Eastern Theater Command organized sea and air forces to monitor and alert the entire transit of the two warships, effectively responding and handling the situation.
Shi Yi said that the actions of the US and the UK send the wrong signal and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The theater troops remain on high alert at all times, resolutely defending national sovereignty, security, and regional peace and stability.
This is the second transit by the "Richmond" since September 2021, drawing attention to the UK's strategic planning in the Indo-Pacific region.
UK: Exercising Right to Freedom of Navigation
The UK Ministry of Defence stated that the transit mentioned above was routine, and emphasized that "the Royal Navy completely abides by international laws and norms in its missions, exercising the right to freedom of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea."
The US Navy also described the action as a routine transit, and said in a statement: "The above warships transited through waters not belonging to any coastal state’s territorial sea. The freedom and rights of navigation in the Taiwan Strait should not be restricted."
Prior to September 12, the "Richmond" had participated in the UK's aircraft carrier strike group for the 2025 Indo-Pacific task force mission.