China's military has described the passage of the British ship HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait as a provocation, while the UK says the mission was legal and planned.

The passage of HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait has been described by China as an "intentional provocation" undermining the stability of the region, while the British Royal Navy says the patrol is part of a planned mission under international law. This is the first action by a British naval vessel in four years, coinciding with the arrival of a British naval group in the region. Taiwan welcomed the action as a defense of freedom of navigation. The British Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the deployment to send a message of unity and resolve.