Taiwan welcomes British naval vessel HMS Spey's Taiwan Strait transit

Taipei, June 19 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed and welcomed on Thursday a transit made by the British Royal Navy's HMS Spey through the Taiwan Strait a day earlier, once again reaffirming its status as international waters.

The foreign ministry confirmed the transit by the British naval vessel, when replying to reporters' question about a reported joint patrol operation between the United States and United Kingdom in the East China Sea, earlier this month.

Such transits by the U.K. and other like-minded countries are encouraged to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, the foreign ministry said.

When asked for comment on Thursday, the British Office in Taipei confirmed that the British Royal Navy's River-class offshore patrol vessel "conducted a navigation of the Taiwan Strait" on Wednesday.

The navigation was conducted in accordance with the rights provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the British Office said, citing precedent for Royal Navy vessels to operate in the region.

"Wherever the Royal Navy operates, it does so in full compliance with international law and exercises its right to Freedom of Navigation and overflight provided by UNCLOS," according to the British Office.