Beijing Protests UK Navy Ship's Passage in South China Sea - Foreign Ministry
Beijing lodged a protest with London over a UK Navy vessel sailing near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
BEIJING (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th September, 2018) Beijing lodged a protest with London over a UK Navy vessel sailing near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
Earlier in the day, media reported that in late August a UK Navy ship, the HMS Albion, passed close to the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam as well.
"China lodged a solemn representation with the United Kingdom and is urging London to stop such actions to avoid any damage to bilateral relations," the ministry's spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, said.
According to Hua, China "intends to take all the steps necessary to ensure its territorial integrity and sovereignty."
The ship was en route to Vietnam from Japan.
The Asia-Pacific region is the stage for several territorial disputes in South China and East China seas that involve China, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines.