In the most recent flare-up of military tensions over the island Beijing claims as its own territory, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong travelled through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday with two other ships, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry.
According to the ministry, the 2019-commissioned Shandong sailed through the strait in a northerly route around noon while staying on its middle line, which acts as an informal wall separating the two sides.
According to a brief statement from the ministry, Taiwan’s military “responded appropriately” after closely monitoring the group with its own ships and aircraft.
The Chinese Ministry of Defence did not respond to requests for comment, and the armed forces of the nation did not acknowledge the voyage on their official social media accounts.
Last month, the Shandong took part in Chinese military exercises in the western Pacific that were centred on Taiwan.
Just hours before the scheduled meeting between the Chinese and American presidents, the Shandong sailed over the Taiwan Strait in March of last year.
After officially stopping its war games last month, China has maintained military exercises on a reduced scale near Taiwan.
Since prior war simulations in August of last year, Chinese warplanes have routinely breached the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry, which also reported on Saturday.
China has never denied using force to seize control of Taiwan.
President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan’s government vehemently refutes Beijing’s claims of sovereignty and maintains that only the island’s residents have the authority to determine its future.
