The British government is releasing a foreign policy document on Tuesday that will outline London’s plan to expand influence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China and maintain strong ties with the US.
The new document is part of the UK’s review of its policies after exiting the European Union. As part of its new focus on Asia, the UK is deploying the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Indian Ocean in May. The carrier is expected to make a passage through the disputed South China Sea, where the US frequently sails warships to challenge Beijing’s claims.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in February, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the HMS Queen Elizabeth’s deployment will be coordinated with the US. “On her flight deck will be a squadron of F-35 jets from the US Marine Corps, showing how the British and American armed forces can operate hand-in-glove – or plane-on-flight deck – anywhere in the world,” he said.
The UK is not the only European country looking to cooperate with the US and challenge Beijing in Asia. In February, a French submarine sailed into the South China Sea alongside another French warship. Germany announced that it is sailing a warship to the region this August and said the vessel will steam through the South China Sea on its voyage home.
NATO is also looking to get in on the action in Asia. A report released by the alliance at the end of last year called for an increased focus on China and more cooperation with countries like Japan, Australia, and South Korea.
On Monday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the US and Europe must cooperate to challenge Beijing. “If you’re concerned about the rise of China, the military and economic strength of China, that makes it even more important that we stand together, Europe and North America in Nato,” he said.
The British will fight for peace until the last American drop of blood.
In the long term, it is money that counts. China has and will have the money. The UK and the USA will not
The US & UK will do what Argentina does, borrow money from the World Bank.
It is sad to see how our leaders spend billions of our money on US made arms to protect US interests around the world using our youth as canon fodder.
Aircraft carriers are obsolete in modern warfare. They spend most of their time in maintenance. Usually the US only has a couple deployed out of eleven here. Then when needed in combat they must stay a couple thousand miles away considering the guided and ballistic missiles now available. Carriers can get closer to enemy shores in peacetime, so that’s what they do and use it (like FONOPS) for cheap propaganda, not having any influence. . . .We showed them! China has more class, but still they could sail one or more of their three carriers through the English Channel just for chucks. That would be a nice anti-war move. Meanwhile the enemy naval ships only reinforce the reality of freedom of navigation for everyone in open (not territorial) seas.