August 13, 2025

Amid citizens’ protests and demonstrations, British Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier arrived on August 12 at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa’s Yokosuka City. This marked the first visit to Japan by a British aircraft carrier since the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier in 2021.

The HMS Prince of Wales, which leads the U.K. carrier strike group, visited Japan after taking part in military drills jointly held by the U.K., the U.S., Japan, and three other countries in the Northern Philippine Sea.

It is believed that the HMS Prince of Wales made a port call at Japan as part of the U.K. strategy prioritizing the Indo-Pacific region. The U.K. government has adopted this strategy based on the 2022 NATO Strategic Concept which was decided upon during the U.S. Biden administration which was seeking to militarily encircle China.

At a park near the U.S. Yokosuka base, members of peace groups and trade unions staged a protest, shouting in chorus, “U.K. aircraft carrier, stay away from Japan!” and “No more multinational military drills!”

Peace activists also staged an on-sea protest against the arrival of the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier. Japanese Communist Party city assemblyperson Omura Yoko joined in this action.