Taiwan reports Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through strait

WORLD  27 May 2023 - 15:15

The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday accompanied by two other ships, Taiwan’s defense ministry said, in the latest uptick in military tensions over the island Beijing claims as its own territory.

The ministry said the Shandong, commissioned in 2019, had sailed in a northerly direction around midday through the strait sticking to its median line, which serves as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, according to Reuters.

China’s defense ministry did not answer calls seeking comment and the country’s armed forces made no mention of the sailing on their official social media channels.

The Shandong participated in Chinese military drills around Taiwan last month, operating in the western Pacific.

In March of last year, the Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait, just hours before the Chinese and U.S. presidents were due to talk.

China has continued military activities on a smaller scale around Taiwan after formally ending its war games last month.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

The government of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen strongly disputes Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.

Caliber.Az