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The Chinese aircraft carrier »Shandong«
Photo: HANDOUT / AFP
According to the Taiwanese government, the Chinese aircraft carrier "Shandong" passed the Taiwanese Strait on Saturday. He was accompanied by two ships, said the Ministry of Defense in Taipei.
The "Shandong", which entered service in 2019, drove northwards through the important shipping lane around noon and remained on its median line. This is considered the unofficial border between Taiwan and China.
Taiwan's military has closely monitored the Chinese ships with its own ships and aircraft and responded appropriately, the ministry said. In addition, eight Chinese fighter jets had crossed the median line of the strait in the past 24 hours. This has been happening regularly since the Chinese maneuvers last August.
China regards Taiwan as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – by military force if necessary. In addition, Beijing considers the entire Taiwan Strait to be its territorial waters. Initially, no comment could be obtained from the Ministry of Defense.
The "Shandong" had also participated in Chinese military exercises around Taiwan last month. During the three-day maneuver, the Chinese military had practiced, among other things, the blockade of Taiwan by ships and aircraft and simulated precision attacks on important targets on Taiwan itself as well as in the surrounding waters.
The large-scale maneuver was Beijing's response to a recent visit to California by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. The USA, in turn, sent the destroyer USS "Milius" to the South China Sea as a replica. A little later, the destroyer then crossed the Taiwan Strait. The passage demonstrates the U.S. commitment to "a free and open Asia-Pacific region," according to the U.S. Navy.
The status of Taiwan is one of the main points of conflict between the US and China.
sak/Reuters