The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command dispatched units to monitor the voyage of a British frigate through the Taiwan Straits on Monday, calling the action a "meaningless display of presence".

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the theater command, said in a statement on Monday that the UK's HMS Richmond had made the transit and publicly boasted about its maneuver. The theater command had dispatched units to follow and monitor the voyage, he said.

"The UK is carrying out a meaningless display of presence with an insidious intention," he said, adding the action has damaged peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and exposed the UK's opportunistic attitude.

Shi said the theater command will remain on high alert and would adamantly take actions in response to any acts of threats and provocations.