Chinese frigate shadows Royal Navy OPV during freedom of navigation activity

HMS Spey , seen here with a PLAN frigate on the horizon, while it is carrying out freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. (UK Permanent Joint Headquarters)

A People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) frigate appeared to have shadowed the UK Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Spey during the latter's recent freedom of navigation activity around the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Imagery released by the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) on 5 May via an official social media account indicates the presence of the large warship on the horizon located around 10 n miles from Spey, broad on the port bow.

Based on the silhouette of this vessel, it is almost certainly a Type 054A (Jiangkai II)-class frigate in service with the PLAN, although no pennant numbers can be deciphered from the image.

“HMS Spey has just exercised navigation rights and freedoms around the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in accordance with UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea],” read the statement issued by the PJHQ.

“The UK is committed to international law and to upholding a free, open and stable South China Sea,” the statement added.

The apparent presence of the PLAN frigate was not referenced in the statement.

However, given that the imagery was released together with the statement, it suggests that the UK vessel's transit was conducted under close observation by Chinese naval forces even though the text did not highlight any interaction.

Spey is a River-class OPV that has been forward deployed to the Indo-Pacific as part of the UK's persistent regional presence.