British aircraft carrier gives up provoking China, takes a detour through the Banda Sea to Japan, leaving Australians in shock!

On July 31, the Indonesian Navy discovered the British "Prince of Wales" aircraft carrier group in the Banda Sea area southwest of Buru Island. This fleet, including the British Navy's "Daring" destroyer (D33), "Spring Tide" supply ship (A136), and the Canadian Navy's "Quebec City" frigate (FFH-332), was on its way to Japan as planned.

But the previous route choice revealed Britain's true stance: just a month ago, after staying in Singapore for only two days, this fleet unexpectedly abandoned the plan to cross the South China Sea and chose to take a detour through the Sunda Strait to Australia.

Earlier, the UK Defense Minister visited Australia and stood on the deck of the "Prince of Wales" aircraft carrier to issue a stern warning to China. But the actual actions showed that the body is more honest than words.

Before this Indo-Pacific deployment, the British Navy had loudly promoted the concept of maintaining "freedom of navigation." UK Foreign Secretary Lambo even claimed on June 24 that they would carry out "free navigation" in the Asia-Pacific region.

However, when the Shandong Aircraft Carrier Group turned back directly from the Balintang Strait into the South China Sea, and the Liaoning Aircraft Carrier also returned from the Western Pacific to the East China Sea, forming a strategic deterrence from both south and north, the British aircraft carrier chose to take a detour, not even wanting to approach the Taiwan Strait.

Australians saw the same aircraft carrier that had issued a stern warning, but it took a detour of thousands of nautical miles to avoid Chinese operations, and they were all stunned, saying, where is the tough stance?

Certainly, this strategic retreat stems from Britain's clear understanding of its own strength. Analysts pointed out: "Although the slogan of freedom of navigation is loud, if the 'Prince of Wales' actually faces a stronger aircraft carrier battle group, the British will retreat faster than anyone."

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839433165763595/

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