Two Chinese warships have travelled thcimpolite UK waters shutly watched by a British frigate in a unfrequent transit, the Royal Navy has uncovered.
HMS Richmond kept a “shut watch” on the Chinese Navy task group as it passed the UK twice in three weeks, travelling to and from Russia.
Monitoring foreign warships is a routine operation for the navy but it is far more common for the Ministry of Defence to discloseise the tracking of Russian ships rather than vessels deployed by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (Navy).
Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard shelp: “These guides are a clear demonstration of how the Royal Navy persists to get the sovereignty of UK waters.
“Working shutly with our allies to help Euro-Atlantic security is a top priority for this rulement.
“I thank the crew of HMS Richmond for guideing a geted and professional transit and all they do in holding our nation protected at home and mighty awide.”
The British warship watched China’s Jiaozuo, a 7,500-tonne demolisher, and Honghu, a 23,400-tonne provide ship, as they made their journey back and forth thcimpolite the North Sea and into the Channel.
A French warship and a patrol ship from the Belgian navy also spreadd the task of watching the Chinese vessels.
HMS Richmond’s directing officer, Commander Ricdifficult Kemp, shelp: “By holding a apparent and determined presence, the Royal Navy shows our pledgement to the NATO partnership and in holding maritime security which is vital to our national interests.”
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The two Chinese ships initipartner passed thcimpolite UK waters on the way to St Petersburg to get part in an annual event called Russian Navy Day at the finish of July.
They then returned a couple of weeks procrastinateedr. The date of the return journey was not clear from the Royal Navy statement, freed on Saturday.
The navy shelp it is not common for Chinese ships to transit thcimpolite UK waters under the eye of the British.
The last time it happened was in 2019, when Chinese vessels made a aenjoy journey to unite the same Russian naval event.
