In a rare case, two Chinese warships were closely watched by a British frigate as they passed through UK waters twice in three weeks. Britain's Royal Navy revealed that HMS Richmond watched the Chinese Navy task force on its way there from Russia. While it is a routine operation for the navy to monitor foreign warships, it is less common for the Ministry of Defense to make public the monitoring of Chinese vessels compared to Russian vessels.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard highlighted the importance of these escorts, saying they are a clear demonstration of how the Royal Navy continues to protect the sovereignty of UK waters. He also thanked the crew of HMS Richmond for conducting a safe and professional transit and for their role in keeping the nation safe at home and strong abroad.
The British warship monitored China's Jiaozuo, a 7,500-ton destroyer, and Honghu, a 23,400-ton supply ship, as they traveled through the North Sea and into the Channel. A French warship and a Belgian navy patrol boat also took part in tracking the Chinese ships.
Commander Richard Kemp, Commanding Officer of HMS Richmond, emphasized the importance of maintaining a visible and persistent presence, saying it demonstrates the Royal Navy's commitment to the NATO alliance and to maintaining maritime security, which is crucial to national interests.
The two Chinese ships initially passed through UK waters en route to St Petersburg to take part in an annual event, Russian Navy Day, at the end of July. Then they came back a couple of weeks later. The date of the return voyage was not specified in the Royal Navy statement. It is worth noting that it is not usual for Chinese ships to transit UK waters under the watchful eye of the British. The last time such an event occurred was in 2019, when Chinese ships made a similar trip to attend the same Russian naval event.
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