LONDON: A stark report published today by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has called for an immediate and substantial increase in British naval deployments to the South China Sea, warning that delays risk ceding strategic ground to Beijing. The document, titled "Grab What You Can in the South China Sea", argues that the United Kingdom must act with urgency to protect its interests and uphold the rules-based international order in the region.
The report's authors, drawing on classified briefings and expert analysis, contend that the current Royal Navy presence is dangerously inadequate. They recommend the permanent stationing of a Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific, alongside enhanced patrols by frigates and submarines. This would mark a significant escalation from London's current rotational deployments.
At the heart of the analysis is a concern that China's assertive maritime claims, backed by a rapidly expanding navy, are eroding established norms. The report states that the UK's failure to project power now will leave it with fewer options in the event of a crisis. "The window for reinforcing our position is narrowing," one senior defence source told the BBC. "If we wait, we risk being locked out of the region entirely."
The document singles out the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, through which a third of global maritime trade passes. It also highlights the need for deeper cooperation with allies, particularly the United States, Japan and Australia. The report's title is a deliberate warning: that regional players may soon feel compelled to secure what they can, undermining collective security.
Critics, however, question the logic of a heightened military posture. Some analysts suggest that the UK's limited resources would be better spent on domestic defence priorities. The Ministry of Defence has responded cautiously, stating that it "takes all such reports seriously" and will "continue to review its force posture in line with strategic requirements."
Yet the report's timing is notable. It arrives amid growing tension over Taiwan and continued Chinese military activity in the region. The UK's own aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, completed a deployment to the South China Sea in 2021, but sustained presence has been lacking. The authors argue that this inconsistency undermines British credibility.
The report concludes with a clear recommendation: the UK must act decisively and without further deliberation. "To delay is to forfeit a free and open Indo-Pacific," it states. The question now is whether Whitehall will heed the call.
