Provocation in the Strait
Chinese aircraft carrier crosses Taiwan Strait
05/27/2023 10:27 am
The Chinese aircraft carrier “Shandong”, accompanied by two other ships, is discovered in the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, eight fighter jets are spotted in the region, reports Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. This increases the pressure from China on Taiwan.
The Chinese aircraft carrier “Shandong” passed the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, according to the Taiwanese government. The Ministry of Defense in Taipei said he was accompanied by two ships. The “Shandong”, which was put into service in 2019, sailed north through the important shipping lane around noon, staying on its center line. This is the unofficial border between Taiwan and China.
The People’s Republic claims Taiwan as its own territory. Tensions around the island have increased significantly in recent months. Taiwan’s military closely monitored the Chinese ships with their own ships and aircraft and responded appropriately, the ministry said. In addition, eight Chinese warplanes have crossed the center line of the strait in the past 24 hours. This has been happening regularly since the Chinese maneuvers last August.
China is silent
Initially, no comment was available from the Ministry of Defense in Beijing. The “Shandong” also took part in the Chinese military exercises around Taiwan last month. During the three-day maneuver, the Chinese military practiced blockading Taiwan with ships and planes, and simulated precision attacks on important targets on Taiwan itself and in the surrounding waters.
In the past three years, China has increased its military pressure on the democratically governed and industrially well-developed Taiwan. The People’s Republic has also never refrained from using force to take control of Taiwan. The status of Taiwan, which is only recognized as independent by a few, mostly small, countries, is one of the main points of contention between the US and China.