The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning transited the Taiwan Strait on Monday, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense, marking the first such passage since late last year. This transit occurs in a highly sensitive area at the heart of tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
In a statement, Taiwanese authorities indicated they were closely monitoring the ship's movements, specifying that their armed forces were maintaining "close and continuous surveillance" of the situation. An image released by the ministry shows the aircraft carrier with several fighter jets and helicopters deployed on its deck.
Taiwan claims to observe almost daily Chinese military activity around the island, which it interprets as a pressure tactic by Beijing. China considers Taiwan part of its territory, despite the democratically elected government in Taipei.
The Liaoning's transit through the strait is part of a series of displays of force conducted by the Chinese military in the region. No further details were provided regarding the ship's precise mission or the extent of its deployment.
The last reported presence of a Chinese aircraft carrier in this area was in December, when the Fujian, the newest and most advanced in the Chinese fleet, made a similar transit. The Liaoning, meanwhile, is the oldest of the three aircraft carriers currently in service with China.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to this information. In this context, this new crossing risks further inflaming already high tensions in the Taiwan Strait, a major strategic point in Asia-Pacific rivalries.
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