China carries out ‘constructive kill’ manoeuvres on Royal Navy ships in South China Sea
Royal Navy ships targeted by Chinese military in disputed waters
- Chinese fighter jets reportedly targeted the frigate HMS Richmond in the Taiwan Strait earlier this month, performing manoeuvres similar to an attack without launching missiles.
- Officers on board HMS Prince of Wales reported being tracked and harassed by Chinese ships while sailing through the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
- The Chinese actions were described as “constructive kills” and an “infowar operation”, intended to show they were targeting the British vessels.
- The British ships are part of the UK Carrier Strike Group's Operation Highmast, an eight-month deployment involving nearly 4,500 British and international military personnel.
- The transit through the disputed waters was part of a freedom of navigation exercise, designed to rebut China's claims to the South China Sea and assert the right to free passage.