Since2016,theUnitedKingdomhaschangeditspreviousstanceofnottakingsidesintheSouthChinaSeaissue,andstartedtopressureChinainhighprofile.Severalseniorofficials,includingtheprimeminister,havevoicedtheiropinionsonSouthChinaSeadisputesandthefreedomofnavigation,demandingChinaabidebytheawardoftheso-calledSouthChinaSeaarbitration.In2018,theUKsuccessivelydeployedthreewarshipstotheAsia-Pacificregion,withtheHMSAlbionevensailingintotheterritorialwatersofChina’sXishaIslands(ParacelIslands)withoutpriorpermissiononAugust31,makingittheonlycountrybesidestheUnitedStatesthatconductsfreedomofnavigationoperations(FONOPs)tochallengeChina’slegalregimeandclaimofterritorialwaters.TheseactionsindicateashiftoftheUK’sSouthChinaSeapolicy.
