China warns Royal Navy of “counter-measures” in South China Sea

The Beijing government has warned the UK that its Carrier Strike Group led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth can expect counter measures if China is provoked in the South China Sea.

A spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defence said China respected the freedom of navigation but firmly opposed any activities that were designed to provoke controversy in the heavily contested region.

“The action should never try to destabilise regional peace, including the latest military collaboration between the UK and Japan,” spokesman Wu Qian, said. “The Chinese navy will take any necessary actions to counter-measure such behaviour.”

The UK’s Ministry of Defence said the Carrier Strike Group was taking the most direct possible route through international waters in order to take part in naval exercises with allies.

Defence secretary Ben Wallace told parliament in April: “We are not going to go to the other side of the world to be provocative. We will be confident, but not confrontational”.