Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on UK-China relations of the deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth on freedom of navigation operations in the Pacific in the vicinity of disputed islands.

Planning for the inaugural deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021 as part of a Carrier Strike Group continues. It will be an ambitious deployment which demonstrates the UK's commitment to upholding a rules based international system and showcases our world-leading carrier capability. Once plans for the deployment have been agreed, the Government will make a statement to the House.