In a warning to China, Japan and UK announce holding joint naval drills in East China Sea

Tokyo/London: The British aircraft carrier, which will be patrolling the Indo-Pacific region, will participate in the war games with Japan. The announcement was made at a two-plus-two meeting between Japan and the UK’s foreign and defence ministers. The joint statement made by both nations comes as a warning to China. Besides, a British leader has criticized China for passing a law that allows military action against foreign ships travelling through the East and the South China Sea. The UK had previously even indicated its readiness to join the alliance of democratic nations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Only recently, a video conference was held between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace took place via video conference. The two-plus-two meeting, held for the first time in three years, saw the four leaders discuss issues on the East and the South China Sea, Hong Kong, Uyghurs and Taiwan. At the time, the UK also announced that the two countries concurred on shared priorities and common strategic interests.

Defense Secretary Wallace said the patrol of the HMS Queen Elizabeth, an aircraft carrier of the British Royal Navy, showed its commitment to allies in the Indo-Pacific region. The UK defense secretary targeted China, as he stated that the maritime transport in the area should be based on international rules and promote shared security and prosperity. The UK even expressed concerns over China’s legislation for dominating the East and the South China Sea.

Japan has said the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth’s participation in its naval drills with the UK holds extreme significance. About a month ago, the UK announced its aircraft carrier’s deployment to the Indo-Pacific region with F-35s on board. The UK had said its warship would arrive in the area by the end of the year. However, China had strongly criticized the UK announcement with a warning that it would take necessary action against the deployment.

The UK, which has taken an exit from the European Union (EU), has begun focusing on the Indo-Pacific region for the past few weeks. Simultaneously, the Johnson administration is taking a stand against China’s growing aggression. France had also announced a new alliance with India and Australia in the Indo-Pacific region. Last year, a virtual meeting was held between the leaders of the three countries.

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