China may pose threat to UK as northern sea route clears, says navy chief

Tony Radakin says Chinese navy could reach waters north of UK using once icebound route

China represents a strategic threat to Britain as its navy could reach the North Atlantic via the Arctic by a route opened up by global heating, the head of the Royal Navy has said.

Adm Tony Radakin, the first sea lord, said an “increasingly assertive” China had the capability to reach waters north of the UK by using the emerging Northern Sea Route.