China and Britain clash after UK warship patrols disputed waters - Beijing asserts that the narrow waterway, which separates mainland China from Taiwan, constitutes Chinese waters

China's military has called a British warship's recent passage through the Taiwan Strait a disruptive act of "intentional provocation" that "undermines peace and stability". The British Royal Navy says HMS Spey's patrol on Wednesday was part of a long-planned deployment and was in accordance with international law.

A British patrol ship passed through the Taiwan Strait on June 18, 2025, less than a week after a Japanese destroyer made a similar trip through the contentious waterway.