The island’s defence ministry said that a Chinese naval formation led by the aircraft carrier Shandong passed 60 nautical miles (111km) to Taiwan’s southeast on Monday (Sept 11) and entered the western Pacific for training.
Also, 11 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighters, were spotted in Taiwan’s air defence identification zone early in the morning. It is noted that its forces made an “adequate response.”
The Shandong, put into service in 2019, took part in Chinese military drills around Taiwan in April, operating in the western Pacific. It also sailed through the Taiwan Strait in June.
A US and a Canadian warship sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday. It marked the second joint mission since June and coincided with the leaders of both countries attending the G20 summit in India.
China has stepped up military activities near the democratically governed island responding to what it calls “collusion” between Taiwan and the United States. It has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.
Taiwan strongly challenges Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
