China's military has called a British warship's recent passage through the Taiwan Strait an act of "intentional provocation" that "undermines peace and stability" in the contested waterway.
The British Royal Navy says the HMS Spey's patrol was part of a long-planned deployment and was in accordance with international law.
Wednesday's transit - the first by a British naval vessel in four years - comes as a UK carrier strike group arrives in the region for a deployment that will last several months.
China considers Taiwan its territory - a claim that self-ruled Taiwan rejects - and has not ruled out the use of force to "reunify" the island.
China has criticised the UK for "publicly hyping up" the journey of the HMS Spey, and said the UK's claims were "a distortion of legal principles and an attempt to mislead the public".
