Overview

• John Healey declared the UK stands ready to join Australia in defending Taiwan but emphasised a preference for peaceful diplomatic dispute resolution.
• The HMS Prince of Wales strike group arrived in Darwin to take part in Talisman Sabre exercises, marking the first non-US carrier participation in nearly 30 years and the start of a nine-month Indo-Pacific deployment.
• The Geelong Treaty commits the UK and Australia to jointly develop a new class of nuclear-powered submarines over 50 years under the AUKUS framework.
• Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Royal Navy vessels will conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait to assert international maritime rights.
• Experts warn that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could escalate into a global conflict, reinforcing the need for credible UK-Australian deterrence.