Prime Minister Pumps Brakes On Potential Carrier Deployment To S. China Sea

British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson says the U.K. will send its newest aircraft carrier to the South China Sea on her maiden deployment, reports CNBC.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May quickly responded to the statement, emphasizing that HMS Queen Elizabeth would not deploy until 2021 and would visit a number of places around the world. The prime minister would make the final decision on its route, the spokesman said, as quoted by the Independent (U.K.).

In a speech on Monday, Williamson said the carrier would sail near disputed islands in the region. 

The U.K. is the second-largest investor in the region and must display "hard power" and "lethality" to protect its interest, the secretary said. 

The Queen Elizabeth will also visit the Middle East and Mediterranean on her maiden deployment, which would be a joint mission with the U.S. The carrier would have a mixed British-American air wing of F-35 fighters, he said. 

In June, France and the U.K. agreed to join U.S. freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, which aim to challenge excessive Chinese maritime claims. 

In his speech, Williamson also revealed that the U.K. was investing 7 million pounds (US$9 million) in squadrons of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that can swarm enemy air defenses, reported the Guardian (U.K.). 

These drone squadrons would be ready for deployment by the end of the year, said Williamson.