British aircraft carrier in the Pacific on a rare deployment

(Patria) - A British aircraft carrier has docked in Singapore as part of a rare Pacific deployment, during which it will visit Australia, Japan and Korea and participate in several multinational exercises.

The visit of HMS Prince of Wales comes weeks after two Chinese aircraft carriers completed simultaneous exercises in the region, an unprecedented move that drew a protest from Japan.

Carrier Strike Group Commander James Blackmore says he does not expect a confrontation with his Chinese counterparts, noting that the United Kingdom and China “have every right to sail their ships in international waters”.

“I almost expect that they will want to come and want to watch what we are doing... Many other parties will want to witness what we are doing,” he told the BBC.

“But I recognise that it will be safe and professional. That is how we operate at sea.”

Just last week, China criticised the passage of another British warship, HMS Spey, through the Taiwan Strait as an act of “deliberate provocation” that “undermines peace and stability”. HMS Spey is one of two British warships, the other being HMS Tamar, that are permanently on patrol in the Indo-Pacific.

HMS Prince of Wales, which docked in Singapore on Monday, is one of the largest ships in the Royal Navy, with a flight deck big enough to fit three football pitches.

During the eight-month deployment, HMS Prince of Wales will be supported by ships from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Spain, among others. The deployment begins with around 2,500 personnel and will grow to over 4,500 for some key exercises.

The warship's presence in the Pacific comes at a time when Washington has become more unpredictable, introducing uncertainty into military alliances in the region. For example, it is now reviewing its multi-billion-dollar submarine deal with the UK and Australia (AUKUS).

When asked how crucial the AUKUS pact is to his carrier strike group's mission,
Commodore Blackmore declined to comment, noting that the agreement “is being dealt with entirely at government level”.

The group is heading to Australia next month to participate in a host-led exercise involving the US and other regional militaries. It will then sail through the Philippine Sea to Japan, where it will support Japanese authorities in developing the country's capacity to operate F-35 aircraft, says Commodore Blackmore.

The deployment of HMS Prince of Wales shows the UK's commitment to the region, adds Blackmore.

“It is about maintaining the rules-based international order and recognising the importance of trade between a free and open Indo-Pacific and European theatre.”

On its way home in September, HMS Prince of Wales will participate in the annual Five Power Defence Arrangements war games, referring to defence pacts between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK established in 1971.

The last time a British aircraft carrier joined these exercises was in 1971.