HMS Queen Elizabeth: Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson defends plans to send Royal Navy carrier to Pacific on first operational mission in 2021 after China cancels trade talks

THE defence secretary has defended plans to deploy HMS Queen Elizabeth to the Pacific on her first operational mission after China s said to have cancelled trade talks with the UK following the announcement.
HMS Queen Elizabeth arriving at Portsmouth Harbour. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA WireHMS Queen Elizabeth arriving at Portsmouth Harbour. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
HMS Queen Elizabeth arriving at Portsmouth Harbour. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

Gavin Williamson MP said the operation would still be going ahead despite the fact Chancellor Philip Hammond's planned meeting with Chinese vice premier Hu Chunhua in Beijing at the weekend was called off.

HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy’s future flagship aircraft carrier, is set to be deployed to the Pacific, the Middle East and Mediterranean on her first operational mission in 2021. 

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HMS Queen Elizabeth arriving at Portsmouth Harbour. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA WireHMS Queen Elizabeth arriving at Portsmouth Harbour. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
HMS Queen Elizabeth arriving at Portsmouth Harbour. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
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The Cabinet minister was asked about it at Defence Questions in the Commons this afternoon, with Conservative MP Bill Grant (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) asking: ‘If the Royal Navy will continue with its freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea?’

Mr Williamson replied: ‘I think, like so many nations such as the United States, Australia, France, New Zealand, Canada - we're all nations that believe in the rule of law and an international rules-based system.

‘And we will always be that nation that does not just talk about it, but actually acts to uphold that rule of law that has benefited so many nations, not just ours but many nations right around the globe as well.

‘So yes, I do.’

The Defence Secretary has been criticised for potentially risking trade talks with China over the deployment of the Portsmouth based HMS Queen Elizabeth.

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He said last week the ship's first operational mission will be to head to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, as well as the Pacific region, where China holds disputed territorial claims and there is an ongoing row over navigational rights.

Mr Williamson is said to have angered Beijing by saying the UK had to be ready to use ‘hard power’, with former chancellor George Osborne calling it ‘gunboat diplomacy of a quite old-fashioned kind’.

In response, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: ‘In relation to China, I think we have set out areas where we have concerns - such as around cyber-intrusions against the UK and our allies.

‘But it is also a country with which we have a strong and constructive relationship.’