The Chinese military is "ready for any threat or provocation" and will as always be on high alert, said a military spokesperson after a UK warship transited the Taiwan Straits on Monday morning.

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) monitored the British Royal Navy warship HMS Richmond as it passed through the Taiwan Straits, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command.

This ill-intentioned behavior undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and exposes the speculative mentality of the UK, he added.