Today's Defence-related news includes further coverage of HMS Albion exercising her freedom of navigation rights through the South China Sea, and efforts to further reduce sexual harassment in the Army.
HMS Albion in South China Sea
The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian all report on HMS Albion’s passage through the South China Sea and focus on the response from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese state media.
Reporting notes that Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea as its territory; parts of it are contested by Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and others.
A Royal Navy Spokesperson said:
HMS Albion exercised her rights for freedom of navigation in full compliance with international law and norms.
Sexual harassment measures
The Financial Times reports that British military chiefs have vowed to do more to tackle sexual harassment in the Army.
The article notes that although the results from the Army’s 2018 Speak Out survey showed there had been a “small downward shift” in personnel experiencing sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviour compared with previous research in 2015, senior officials have vowed to do more.
Lieutenant General Nick Pope, Deputy Chief of the General Staff
“There has been some improvement since we released the last report in 2015 but we need to do more. Sexual harassment is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated by myself or the Army.”
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