HMS Queen Elizabeth will lead the Royal Navy fleet on its first visit to Japan, South Korea, India and Singapore in May and participate in a 17-nation joint military exercise.
The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (HMS Queen Elizabeth) strike group (CSG21) set sail this month from the British Portsmouth port (Portsmouth), to the Asia-Pacific region, the mission period of up to seven months. The Ministry of Defense said the operation is “part of the UK’s tilt toward the Indo-Pacific …… it will help achieve the UK’s goal of deepening engagement with the Indo-Pacific region in support of shared prosperity and regional stability.
The British Ministry of Defense announced that the British Fleet Strike Group, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, departed on May 1 and will join allies from Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Israel, India, Oman and South Korea before heading to the Asia-Pacific region, where more than 20 warships, three submarines and 150 warplanes will participate in the 2-week Exercise Strike Warrior21 in the waters of northwest Scotland.
The Royal Navy press release states that the Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers HMS Defender and HMS Diamond and the Type 23 frigate HMS Kent have also sailed, while the AW159 Wildcats, part of 815 Naval Air Squadron, have also flown. The AW159 Wildcats, part of the 815th Naval Air Squadron, have also left their land bases and are on board the ships. The USS The Sullivans, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and the HNLMS Evertsen will also join CSG21.
After the joint exercise, HMS Queen Elizabeth Strike Group will visit India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. This is the first operational deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth Strike Group and the largest British naval and air task force since the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina in 1982. The deployment is estimated to last about 28 weeks, spanning 26,000 nautical miles (about 48,000 kilometers) and visiting more than 40 countries during that time.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace (Ben Wallace) said that it will then fly the flag of “Global Britain” (Global Britain) to show the influence of the United Kingdom.
According to reports, HMS Queen Elizabeth is the British Navy’s largest ship, in addition to six British warships escort, the 65,000-ton carrier aircraft, including eight short-field and vertical takeoff and landing F-35B “Lightning II” fighters, and 14 maritime attack helicopters, anti-submarine and air early warning aircraft and assault helicopters. The F-35B Lightning II fighter jet is a short-field and vertical landing aircraft, and 14 maritime attack helicopters, anti-submarine and airborne early warning aircraft and assault helicopters.
The British government announced on Jan. 4 this year that the first carrier strike group established by the Royal Navy in 38 years is now ready for initial operations, i.e., the air armament of F-35s and helicopters on board the 65,000-ton HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, as well as escorting destroyers, patrol ships, submarines and supply ships, can all be ready within five days of receiving orders. The order was received within five days of deployment.
Foreign news reports said that this is the first time after World War II, the British army returned to Asia in a big battle, but also the United Kingdom in 39 years again in the international waters of large-scale military operations, the last time was in 1982 when the former Prime Minister “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher (Margaret Thatcher) administration and Argentina for the Falkland Islands ( Falklands.
In March this year, Britain published its foreign and defense policy report, establishing the principle of “Indo-Pacific tilt” (Indo-Pacific tilt) strategy, the goal is to become the most integrated European country with the Indo-Pacific region, to ensure the smooth flow of trade, and to defend the common security and values with allies.
Tensions are growing in the Indo-Pacific region, with Japan’s annual foreign policy report last month pointing out that China’s military expansion and unilateral attempts to change the status quo in Asian waters are a source of concern for regional countries and the international community.
Michael Pezzullo, secretary-general of Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, also said that free countries can already hear the “drums of war” ringing, although he did not elaborate much, and his warning was interpreted as being related to Taiwan and China (the Chinese Communist Party).
The report said the carrier strike group CSG21’s 28-week international cruise (May-December) will cross the Mediterranean Sea, enter the Arabian Sea via the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and then travel from the Indian Ocean to the Philippine Sea. The British side is not sure whether it will avoid the Taiwan Strait and take the long way around to Japan so as not to anger China (Chinese Communist Party)?
Experts point out that Britain is a European military power, and this maiden voyage to Asia with the Queen Elizabeth carrier formation is the largest overseas military dispatch in recent years, demonstrating its vision to play a more important role in international affairs, especially in the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, as an important member of NATO, the United Kingdom to strengthen the deployment and presence of military forces in the Indo-Pacific region, but also with the United States “Indo-Pacific” strategy to deepen considerations.
At present, the UK has participated in many security cooperation mechanisms in the Indo-Pacific region, such as the “Five Eyes Alliance” (composed of the intelligence agencies of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), the “Five Nations Joint Defense “(Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore) and so on, so there is a strong will and sufficient motivation to turn to the “Indo-Pacific”.
In October 2016, Theresa May, the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, first proposed the strategic vision of “Global Britain” in her speech at the Conservative Party Conference. In her speech at the Conservative Party Conference in October 2016, Theresa May first proposed a strategic vision of “Global Britain”, emphasizing the need for the UK to redefine itself in the wake of Brexit and to regain its global identity and influence by moving “beyond Europe” and taking on a new role in the wider global arena.
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