The Defence Secretary has said Britain would join Australia and “fight together” if conflict breaks out in the Pacific triggered by Chinese aggression towards Taiwan. Beijing has never recognised the sovereignty of Taiwan, which is an independent island nation off the coast of the Chinese mainland and has strong political and trading connections to the West.
If China launched an attack against Taiwan it’s likely the US, Britain and allies like Australia would seek to come to the aid of the island country, potentially sparking a global conflict between the West and Beijing. In a show of force in the region, the Royal Navy’s formidable aircraft carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales, is currently docked in Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory, and is due to take part in a series of war games exercises with US and Australian armed forces.
Speaking at a press conference on board the impressive vessel, Defence Secretary John Healey was asked if the UK was prepared for the threat of a potential conflict with China over Taiwan.
Answering the question from the Telegraph, Mr Healey, who was stood alongside Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, said: “If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together. We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together.”
Mr Healey confirmed Britain was ready for battle if a conflict erupts in the Indo-Pacific region, but he said in “general terms” the UK would prefer to resolve any disputes first “peacefully” and “diplomatically” before the need for the use of force.
He added: “We secure peace through strength, and our strength comes from our allies.”
The Royal Navy Flagship, the HMS Prince of Wales, is certainly a sign of strength any pontential enemies. The 932-foot-long vessel is bristling with state-of-the-art warfighting kit and she can launch 36 F-35B fighters, as well as four Merlin Helicopters.
HMS Prince of Wales is one of the most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK. Her flight deck is 70 metres wide and 280 metres long, enough space for three football pitches, and she holds 45 days’ worth of food in stores.
Mr Healey has visited Australia alongside Foreign Secretary David Lammy to sign a 50-year bilateral Aukus treaty between the two historically connected nations.
Mr Lammy and Mr Healey met their counterparts at the annual Australia-UK ministerial meeting, or Aukmin, in Sydney, and then travelled on to Melbourne to meet businesses involved in the Aukus submarine programme.
The Aukus partnership between the UK, US and Australia involves building nuclear-powered attack submarines – including Australia acquiring its first such fleet – and co-operating in other areas of defence. It was agreed by the three countries in 2021, but the Trump administration has put it under review, raising fears it could pull out.
The deal now being signed by the UK and Australia sets out the bilateral aspects of the partnership and how the two countries will work together to deliver their Aukus submarine programmes over the next half century.
Defence Secretary Mr Healey said: “Aukus is one of Britain’s most important defence partnerships, strengthening global security while driving growth at home.
“This historic treaty confirms our Aukus commitment for the next half century.”