The United Kingdom will expand its naval presence in the Indo-Pacific in an effort to counter China’s growing influence, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in Samoa on Saturday at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) meeting.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the challenges faced by our friends and partners on the other side of the world,” Starmer said in a statement.
“My visit to the Pacific this week has only reinforced how important this part of the world is to the United Kingdom’s prosperity and security, and I know across business, trade, and defence we play a vital role in supporting the region too.”
Between 2021 and 2023, 54 countries improved their scores (i.e. lower risk), five countries retained the same score, while 93 countries had a worse score, the report said.
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“Of special concern is the continuing high score for China, given its vast domestic and distant-water fishing fleets. Its score remains very high compared to other countries, despite a marginal improvement in 2023,” it read.
China is also “buying its way into restricted national fishing grounds” from South America to Africa to the far Pacific. Pete McKenzie, the project investigator, gave a recent example from Argentina. “Chinese companies now control at least 62 industrial squid-fishing vessels that fly the Argentine flag. This constitutes most of Argentina’s entire squid fleet,” he said.
A Chinese fishing vessel operating illegally in Argentina’s exclusive economic zone on May 4, 2020. Handout / Argentina’s Navy Press Office / AFP
The British Royal Navy currently has two patrol vessels deployed in the Indo-Pacific, including HMS Tamar, which has been bolstering security in Samoa for CHOGM during the past week.
The UK will join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership by December, and will play a more important role in the region as part of its AUKUS responsibilities.
When meeting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Starmer also reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to negotiating a bilateral treaty, as announced by Defence Ministers in September, to develop the SSN-AUKUS submarine for both nations.
“As responsible international players, we cannot turn a blind eye to the challenges faced by our friends and partners on the other side of the world, so my message today is clear: this is just the beginning of our commitment to the Indo-Pacific,” Starmer said.
“Combining expertise, local knowledge and investment, I truly believe we can create unique opportunities for people both in the Pacific and at home, and in doing so, we play our part in ensuring a safer, fairer world.”
Darren Taylor contributed to this report.
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