UK’s Type 23 frigate tracks Chinese warships as they travel through UK waters

Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond has kept a close watch on a Chinese Navy task group as it passed the UK twice in three weeks.

The Plymouth-based frigate monitored the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) ships first as they headed to St Petersburg to participate in Russian Navy Days.

The British warship tracked the two Chinese vessels, the Jiaozuo, a 7500-tonne destroyer, and Honghu, a 23,400-tonne supply ship, as they made their return journey through the North Sea and into the Channel, traveling through UK waters under the routine right of passage.

“These escorts are a clear demonstration of how the Royal Navy continues to protect the sovereignty of UK waters. Working closely with our allies to support Euro-Atlantic security is a top priority for this government,” Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, said.

Although the presence of Chinese Navy ships in the English Channel is not a common occurrence, it’s not the first time the Royal Navy has maintained watch on Chinese ships heading to or from the Russian city for its annual naval gathering.

HMS St Albans and Westminster were called upon to monitor the Chinese destroyer Xian as it sailed to and from the same event back in 2019.

HMS Richmond took over from the French ship Commandant Blaison which maintained contact with the Chinese duo past its country’s coastline.

From there until reaching the North Sea, where Belgian Navy patrol ship Pollux continued to follow Jiaozuo and Honghu. Richmond used its helicopter Brigand from 814 Naval Air Squadron at Cornwall, plus sensors and simple visual contact to maintain a constant eye on the two vessels, the navy noted.

The Royal Navy routinely monitors UK waters and adjacent seas to ensure compliance with maritime law and protect national interests.