'No decision' made on whether to send HMS Queen Elizabeth to South China Sea

MILITARY top brass are still mulling over whether or not to send the UK’s biggest warship into the South China Sea, a minister has insisted.

By Tom Cotterill

Published 24th Jul 2020, 17:28 BST

Updated 24th Jul 2020, 17:29 BST

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Baroness Annabel Goldie said ‘no decision has yet been made’ on whether to deploy HMS Queen Elizabeth to the region on her first operational mission next year.

The situation comes amid escalating tensions between the UK and Beijing following a political falling out over new Hong Kong security laws and the axing of Chinese tech firm Huawei from Britain’s future 5G network.

In a written parliamentary response, defence minister Baroness Goldie said: ‘Cross-government consultation is in progress and we expect to finalise the details of the deployment soon.’

HMS HMS Queen Elizabeth Hong Kong

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