Tri-Service
Royal Navy Escorts Chinese Warship Through Channel
A brand-new Chinese warship has been escorted through the Dover Strait as she made her way to the North Sea.
HMS Somerset established constructive communications with the Xiangtan after she entered the Channel from the Atlantic on Wednesday, and on request the Plymouth-based frigate provided the ship with a weather forecast.
Xiangtan has now continued her journey.
Somerset was operating as the Navy's Fleet Ready Escort, working at high readiness to conduct a range of maritime security tasks. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:
"The UK enjoys positive relations with China and the Royal Navy has once again provided a secure escort around our shores. The UK strongly supports the right of all States to exercise freedom of navigation in accordance with international law."
Somerset’s Commanding Officer, Commander Michael Wood said:
"This was the second Chinese naval group to enter the Channel within the last eight months and duties of this type are routinely conducted on passing warships from non-NATO navies.
"It signals the Royal Navy’s readiness to provide security at sea while being minded to promote friendly partnerships with others."
It comes after a delegation from China visited Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and HMS Excellent in Portsmouth in April.
Three Officers from the Naval University of Engineering of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy spent three days in the UK as guests of the Royal Navy.
A group from the Royal Navy, meanwhile, visited China, in a trip designed to strengthen relations between the British and Chinese defence training establishments.
Video courtesy of Royal Navy photographer Guy Pool.
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