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2h ago

Chinese Jets Stage 'Constructive Kills' on UK Frigate During Taiwan Strait Transit

London frames the passage as a lawful freedom-of-navigation operation that offered insight into PLA tactics despite harassment.

TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 31: F-35B Lightning II short-takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variants of the stealth multirole fighter jets are seen aboard HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, during a public ship tour at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal on August 31, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan. The aircraft carrier was opened to the public in connection with the UK Carrier Strike Group's (CSG) port call in Tokyo. The group has been in Japan since August 12 for joint training exercises. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • HMS Richmond was subjected to simulated missile-attack flight profiles, with jets climbing and breaking away at a sharp angle, according to a Royal Navy officer.
  • China’s Eastern Theater Command said it sent naval and air units to closely follow the British and US ships and labeled the transit a provocation.
  • The British frigate transited alongside the US destroyer USS Higgins as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group led by HMS Prince of Wales on Operation Highmast.
  • A Chinese Z-10 helicopter shadowed Richmond’s Merlin Mk2, and Royal Navy personnel reported close approaches by Chinese vessels near the Spratly Islands.
  • Officers said they did not expect live fire and characterized the interactions as professional and useful for understanding Chinese tactics, as the UK reiterated its navigation rights.