(Photo: MINDEF)

China Global Times, a newspaper under the purview of the Chinese Communist Party’s People’s Daily, published an article on Monday (26 Jul), condemning Britain’s carrier strike group for making its way into the South China Sea.

Ships from the Britain’s strike group, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, carried out a joint navy exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) on Monday in the southern reaches of the South China Sea. It is the first time the Royal Navy’s carrier strike group has been deployed to the Asia-Pacific region.

Global Times said, “The UK’s intention is obvious. It wants to provoke China, engage in the so-called freedom of navigation like the US does and demonstrate its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Britain is still living in its colonial days.”

“The UK intends to use its navy to revive its old dream of an empire, but its overall strength cannot support such global ambitions,” it added. “The UK’s economy has fallen into recession and about one-fifth of UK pensioners are living in poverty… this being the case, the UK still insists on following the US to provoke China, which is a big mistake.”

Global Times opined that the purpose of the Britain’s carrier strike group is to coordinate with the US, threatening China’s interests in South China Sea.

“It is still living in the ‘auld lang syne’ trying to show its strength to the world through the so-called freedom of navigation,” Global Times wrote. “If the UK wants to provoke the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the South China Sea, it will inevitably lead to strong countermeasures from China.”

Commenting on the economy of Britain, Global Times said, “Putting a limited budget into messing up the Asia-Pacific situation is very likely to drag the recovery of the UK’s economy in the post-pandemic era. After all, permanently deploying two warships in Asian waters will be like a bottomless pit for the UK. It will affect the British people’s living standards as well.”

“Coordinating with the US in disrupting the Asia-Pacific situation will only dwarf the UK’s own national image, and weaken the attractiveness of the UK’s global strategy,” it added.

MINDEF: Exercises enable RSN to keep warm ties with foreign navies

Meanwhile, Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) released a statement on Tuesday (27 Jul), confirming that RSN has conducted a “contactless passage exercise” (PASSEX) with the Royal Navy’s ships comprising of aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, frigates HMS Kent and HNLMS Evertsen, destroyer USS The Sullivans, as well as replenishment tanker RFA Tidespring.

MINDEF said that RSN’s frigate RSS Intrepid, littoral mission vessel RSS Unity, and landing ship tank RSS Resolution conducted a series of communication and manoeuvring exercises with the Royal Navy’s ships.

“In addition, RSS Intrepid took part in a replenishment-at-sea drill with RFA Tidespring,” it added.

“The RSN conducts regular PASSEXes with foreign navies to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen friendship with other navies. These professional interactions at sea have enabled the RSN to keep our ties warm with our navy counterparts, especially amidst the ongoing COVID-19 situation.”

MINDEF also disclosed that Royal Navy’s tanker, RFA Tidespring, made a port call at Singapore last week (23 to 25 Jul) to conduct replenishment exercise.

Commenting on the joint navy exercise with Singapore, the UK commander of the Britain’s carrier strike group, Commodore Steve Moorhouse, told the media, “The Royal Navy has huge affection for Singapore based on our history together, but Singapore is also a beacon of enterprise in a region that is growing in strategic importance.”

“The arrival of the Carrier Strike Group in Southeast Asia is a clear sign that the United Kingdom is ready to work with friends and partners, new and old, to strengthen the security and freedoms upon which we mutually depend,” Moorhouse said.

“We are grateful to Singapore for supporting an important logistics stop for RFA Tidespring as the Carrier Strike Group continues our programme at sea. We look forward to working with Singapore again.”

The British High Commissioner to Singapore, Kara Owen, also added, “The Carrier Strike Group’s presence is another element of our strategic approach to the Southeast Asia region.”

“We welcome Singapore’s support for the Carrier Strike Group’s deployment to the region. Our joint exercise showcases our navies’ ability to operate effectively together, underscoring the deep and strong defence and security partnership,” she said.

 

Subscribe
Notify of
41 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

ICA evaluates every stateless person’s application for citizenship based on a range of criteria: Minister K Shanmugam

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) evaluates every application for Singapore Permanent…

NUS review committee on framework to address sexual misconduct finally convenes, to submit preliminary recommendations by mid-May

The much talked about review committee set up by the National University…

AG’s definition of “sub judice” called into question

Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam has questioned what he described as the Attorney General’s…

杨莉明暗指公积金基本存款或调整

人力部长杨莉明表示,为了满足新加坡人的退休储蓄,应定期调整公积金基本退休金存款额(basic retirement sum),确保其支出能够满足公积金会员的生活,暗指公积金最低退休金额或可能面临再次上调。 周五(15日),人力部长出席国大文理学院90周年庆典表示,退休储蓄对于新加坡人而言是相当重要,更何况目前新加坡人的预期寿命比以往更长,因此调整公积金基本退休金额是有其必要性。 距离2015年调整,已有4年之久,目前公积金最低总额是规定于年满55岁以后,其金额约为最低17万6000元。而会员直到65岁以后才能从中能够领取,但若以个人财产抵押的话,55岁的强制性金额则可达到减半,称基本存款(Basic Retirement Sum) 杨莉明称,由于通货膨胀,因此有提高公积金最低金额的必要性,她表示,“通货膨胀是其中一项影响退休生活的因素,当我们的储蓄与指出是固定时,其价值会随之时间的推移而逐渐减少。 她也提到,在10年后,若年满65岁时可能会因当时的通货膨胀而出现入不敷出的现象。 她说,“我们应该如何确保基本存款能够在10年后,或整个退休阶段,都能够拥有足够的指出?那我们又该如何订定基本存款的金额,以应未来开销?” 因此,2021年的公积金最低金额或将高于2020年的18万1000元。 另一方面,在65岁以后的每月领入息,根据基本存款(若有资产作为抵押),于55岁时,其最低金额需达8万8000元,即指65岁以后每月将可领取700至800元。…