Brits still livings in their dream world of British Raj??
British carrier deployment to ‘as BRITS rule of law’ to China
By Lisa West
During a House of Lords debate on air defence capabilities, Lord Alton of Liverpool highlighted growing concerns over China’s military advancements, including the recent unveiling of a three-engine stealth bomber and a “mother ship” for drones.
He questioned the UK’s response to these developments and the implications for national security.
In response, Lord Coaker underscored the UK’s commitment to confronting these challenges through a mix of competition, cooperation, and direct challenge.
“We need to challenge, whether that is at home or abroad,” he said.You are absolutely Alton… the PLAN will simply swamp you in the Indo Pacific.
So tell Coaker not to venture there unless you are being escorted by the US Navy or the Japanese Navy.
Soon you can count also on the Indian Navy Though Coaker thinks that he can counter PLAN by deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group.
“The hard power of our country and that of our international allies, including the United States, will be reflected next year when the carrier strike group goes not only through the Mediterranean but into the Indo-Pacific,” Lord Coaker boasted. Well this boast has a potential to turn into a Croak !!
He stated that this deployment aims to “assert the rule of law” and demonstrate the UK’s commitment to upholding international norms in the face of rising Chinese militarisation.
He has forgotten that Charle’s Navy now hardly has ships to match the Chinese and that too in the Indo Pacific? In fact soon Chinese Navy will be making this difficult even the Mediterranean.
The not so United Kingdom still dreams of missions to ensure freedom of navigation in contested waters, particularly in the Indo-Pacific with a Navy which is no match to PLAN.
The UK’s Carrier Strike Group, around HMS Queen Elizabeth, has no choice but to remain in close vicinity of ships of the United States, Japan, and other Indo-Pacific partners, when it dares to venture in areas dominated by PLAN.
However living in the past, Brits still talk of enforcing international rules and deter aggression.
The deployment probably signals the last gasp of the UK’s “Global Britain” agenda. Comprising of Scotland and Northern Ireland which are now less and less interested in staying under the Kingdom, the Brits still seek to extend the nation’s influence beyond Europe and strengthen ties with regional allies like Australia and Japan.
By token challenge to China’s assertive actions in the Indo Pacific and beyond, the UK aims to keep up the façade that it is still an international maritime power that can patrol and secure the critical global trade routes.
Lord Coaker’s remarks reflect the UK’s growing pain of a ex global power. “What happens in Europe affects the Indo-Pacific, and what happens in the Indo-Pacific affects Europe,” he vacantly talked, dreaming that these words will again ensure Britania Ruling the Waves !!
This deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group only showcases that the wretched nation is still living in dream world. Its commitment to a rules-based international order and its readiness to face emerging security challenges is now good enough to strike only on Houthi rebels.
For the 800 strong crew of HMS Prince of Wales as it prepares to lead Carrier Strike Group 25 on a deployment to the Pacific, it is surely excitement and hard work. “It’s the first time this ship has held the duty of flagship,” Captain Blackett explained to me.
Britain’s two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, regularly rotate the flagship title between them, with one ready for deployment and the other in routine maintenance.
This is the first time in her five-year career that HMS Prince of Wales has assumed the prestigious role.
“Over the course of four years, we’ve overcome quite a lot of challenges.” Among these was a major repair to the ship’s propeller system, a period that Captain Blackett acknowledged was critical in shaping the ship’s readiness. This shows the actual state of British Navy……critical.
The upcoming Carrier Strike Group 2025 operation will see HMS Prince of Wales take her task force east of the Suez Canal on a mission…..to act out the past !!.
As part of her preparations, HMS Prince of Wales participated in Exercise Strike Warrior, a major North Sea operation involving allied nations.
The exercise included her first embarkation of F-35B Lightning jets from 809 Naval Air Squadron, which conducted 71 sorties over 210 flying hours and dropped live Paveway bombs during operational scenarios.
The British Navy now has only 2 x aircraft Carriers, 6 x destroyer, 8 x frigates, 5 x SGNs, 4 x SSBNs and 8 x OPVs. With this they dream of going into South China Sea and challenge the Chinese Navy comprising 3 x aircraft Carriers, 4 x Helicopter Carriers, 50 x destroyer, 47 x frigates, 72 x Corvettes, 107 x missile boats, 45 x conventional submarines and 9 x nuclear submarines !!
