The state-of-the-art aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth" has set sail for the Indo-Pacific region from the United Kingdom.

It is likely to aim to strengthen its involvement in the region, which is of increasing geopolitical importance, as well as to curb China's growing influence.

The British government has announced in March that its diplomatic and security policy for the next 10 years will increase its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region in terms of economics and security. As part of this, it has announced that it will send a state-of-the-art aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth" to the region.



Queen Elizabeth also visited Southern Portsmouth, where the naval base is located, on the 22nd to inspect the inside of the aircraft carrier.



And at night, the aircraft carrier was sent off by a large number of citizens and set sail.



With the addition of American and Dutch ships to the carrier-centered strike group, it will take about seven months to travel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and then to the Pacific Ocean.



In the Indo-Pacific region, we plan to call at ports in Japan, South Korea, India, etc., and plan to conduct joint training with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

Royal Navy Top "Embodied Indo-Pacific Involvement"

General Radakin, the head of the Royal Navy, responded to an interview with NHK before the departure of the aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth". He said it embodies involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.



In an interview, General Radakin said that the Indo-Pacific region was a free and open waters, and that "every country, including China, should act according to the rules" and expanded its influence in the region. Suppressed China.



The United Kingdom has positioned China as a strategic competitor, saying, "China will see this dispatch with great interest. We will work with partners who share our values ​​and interests to help us. It will show new capabilities and China needs to think about what it means. We will not cause conflict, but we will confidently do what we need to do. "



Regarding Japan, he emphasized the importance of relations as the same maritime nation, saying, "It is economically important for Britain and the views of things are very similar. International rules, free trade, and free and open. We support the Indo-Pacific and are in the same position as the United Kingdom. "