A British fleet that includes an aircraft carrier will sail in May to make port calls in 40 Asian-Pacific countries, CNN reported on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 (read story here).
It’s a classic “show the flag” voyage designed to glad-hand friends, display military power, and test capabilities and readiness. But as the flotilla’s route likely will take it through the South China Sea, it’s also a rebuke of China’s sovereignty claims to the sea. It’s also a reflection of NATO countries’ growing misgivings about Chinese belligerency.
The U.S. regularly conducts “freedom of navigation” patrols there, usually with a single ship, to challenge those claims. Sending a European carrier fleet there shows America won’t be fighting alone if push comes to shove.
Anchoring the fleet is the HMs Queen Elizabeth (details and history here), one of the Royal Navy’s two new carriers, with British and American F-35s on board. The fleet also includes a U.S. destroyer and a Dutch frigate, giving it an international flavor. As the fleet plans to sail past Taiwan, part of the message being sent is that if China attacks Taiwan, the resulting war will pit China against the world. The hope, of course, is that prospect will deter such an attack from ever happening.
For a deep dive into Beijing’s mentality and “wolf warrior diplomacy,” read this article.
And if the British wish to be really cheeky they will make a port call in Hong Kong.