Two Chinese warships which entered UK waters have been closely watched by a British frigate in a rare transit, the Royal Navy has disclosed.
The two warships in question are China’s Jiaozuo, a 7,500-tonne destroyer, and Honghu, a 23,400-tonne supply ship, which travelled back and forth through the North Sea and into the Channel.
The Chinese Navy task group, which travelled to and from Russia, was meticulously monitored by HMS Richmond, with the assistance of a French warship and a patrol ship from the Belgian navy.
Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard said: ‘These escorts are a clear demonstration of how the Royal Navy continues to protect the sovereignty of UK waters.
‘Working closely with our allies to support Euro-Atlantic security is a top priority for this government.
’I thank the crew of HMS Richmond for conducting a safe and professional transit and all they do in keeping our nation secure at home and strong abroad.’
HMS Richmond’s commanding officer, Commander Richard Kemp, said: ‘By maintaining a visible and persistent presence, the Royal Navy demonstrates our commitment to the NATO alliance and in maintaining maritime security which is crucial to our national interests.’
The two Chinese ships initially passed through UK waters on the way to St Petersburg to take part in a Russian naval event, making their way back through the same route two weeks later.
The transit of Chinese ships through UK waters is a very uncommon event, the Navy added. The last instance dates back to 2019, when Chinese vessels made a journey to attend the same Russian naval event.
While the monitoring foreign warships is a routine operation for the navy, it is far more common for the Ministry of Defence to publicise the tracking of Russian ships rather than vessels deployed by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (Navy).
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