State-run Chinese media is depicting the United Kingdom's decision to send jet fighters of the Royal Air Force to patrol the South China Sea (followed later by Royal Navy warship patrols) as an illustration of British braggadocio that makes the UK a "meddler" in the same mold as the United States and Japan.

Like Us on Facebook

 A lengthy commentary in one of the People's Liberation Army's more important websites said the UK's Ambassador to the United States, Sir Nigel Kim Darroch, was simply trying to impress his Japanese hosts when he said that RAF Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighters currently deployed on a visit to Japan will fly across the South China Sea to assert international overflight rights.

"Such remarks create the impression that London may soon deviate from a largely aloof attitude over the South China Sea issue and start playing a meddling role there like the United States and Japan," said the commentary.

Any British warplane flying "a so-called 'freedom of navigation' mission in the South China Sea ... would only serve to further complicate the issue and weigh on thriving China-Britain ties."

The commentary said British policymakers "should be well aware that by copying provocative actions of Washington and Tokyo over the South China Sea, it stands to lose on at least two sides: its credibility as a responsible global player and its relations with China."

Darroch's South China Sea remarks "indeed struck an alarming note."

The author blamed "tons of biased Western media reports and a string of irresponsible U.S. military maneuvers in the South China Sea" for making freedom of navigation freedom of navigation "a ready excuse for outsider parties to impose themselves over the issue."

He said the reality is "there's never been any problem with the legitimate passage of ships and planes in the area." He also noted the South China Sea is vital both to global trade and to China's development.

"China itself needs unimpeded passage in the body of water more than any other country, and maintaining peace and stability has been the overriding consideration of its South China Sea policy," he said.

The United Kingdom last week announced it will regularly patrol the disputed South China Sea, first with jet fighters from the Royal Air Force and later with jets from aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy.

The patrols are meant to reinforce the right of nations to freedom of navigation in this disputed maritime area.

The Royal Navy patrols will begin by 2020 when the Royal Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, becomes fully operational.  The Royal Navy said jet fighters from the Queen Elizabeth will fly over the South China Sea.

It also expressed concerns about restrictions to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as a result of China's string of man-made islands, some of which have become military bases with facilities for jet fighters, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, radar installations and warships.

The first Royal Air Force patrols over the South China Sea might take place as early as this year, however.

TagsUnited Kingdom, air patrols, naval patrols, South China Sea, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Sir Nigel Kim Darroch, national overflight rights., HMS Queen Elizabeth