UK to send Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier to Japan, S Korea
Winds of war on the horizon?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The United Kingdom’s HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier will lead a flotilla of Royal Navy ships through Asian waters on port visits to Japan and South Korea on its maiden deployment, the British embassy in Tokyo has announced, as Australia warned of threats of conflict in the region.
The high-profile voyage, announced by the British embassy on Monday, is aimed at bolstering security ties in East Asia and comes amid tensions in the region as concern grows in Japan over any threat posed to neighbouring Taiwan by China, as well as increased tensions in the disputed South China Sea.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden issued a joint statement this month addressing China’s growing assertiveness and the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait following their first face-to-face meeting in Washington since both became leaders of their countries.
The British carrier strike group which includes the Queen Elizabeth and 18 F-35B stealth fighters, two destroyers, two frigates and two support ships will have to sail through the South China Sea on its way to East Asia. China claims almost the entire sea while Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam also claim parts of it.
It will be joined by vessels from the United States and a frigate from the Netherlands and will carry out exercises with forces from Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, the UAE, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Israel, India, Oman and South Korea, the British government said in a statement.
Other foreign ships currently in Asian waters include a French amphibious carrier and two US navy aircraft carriers, one of which, the USS Ronald Reagan, is based in Japan.
On Friday, Japan announced that it would also host a military drill with the US and France from May 11 to 17 .
Twisting Stalin's quip: For the West, the death of one man will be a tragedy. For China, the death of millions will be a statistic.
I read elsewhere that the QE task force may be permanently based in Brunei or Singapore.
from the link in the seeded article.
Show the flags of free nations....in large numbers and often.
Exactly. I seeded about this when the UK announced it and the benefits it would have for the regions democracies. China is unhappy but who cares. Australia is going to contribute a support ship to the QE task force as well. I keep saying to all who will listen that there won’t be just a China vs USA conflict if there is one at all.
You are exactly right. The flags of freedom.
China's jugular is still having open access to shipping ports.
China has exactly the same problems as we do in needing to keep the sea lanes open. This is what modern navies are all about. That and projecting power.
Now shat to do about all of these artificial islands that China has built that have been ruled illegal by international law...?
Those islands and Chinas ridiculous claims alienate all of their regional neighbors so right now we do nothing except cultivate alliances with each and every nation affected adversely by their aggression.
So exactly what do you recommend to remedy the situation? Create holes to let water into some of their ships with MK48-ADCAPS?
For the sake of the survival of our world I hope that playing those games doesn't lead to a bad mistake being made that can cause the shot (not the one heard AROUND the world, but the one) that ENDS the world and everyone and everything in it.
Why would games on land in Japan or at sea in clearly international waters ever lead to something like that? It’s quite a list of nations (see 2.2above) involved in the naval excercises. I hope the Chinese navy doesn’t sink an Israeli surface ship or submarine. It’s easy to see why the Turks are there.
I didn't say anything intentional might happen, I used the word "mistake" on purpose, and as well, I did not rule out a mistake being made by China.
Not to worry Buzz.... The cooler heads are at sea. The ones you have to worry about are sitting at desks in their respective capitals.