China’s aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, traversed the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Monday, marking the first such passage by a vessel of its kind since late last year, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry.
The move comes amidst heightened tensions, with Beijing asserting its claim over Taiwan, which it considers its own territory.
Taipei frequently reports Chinese military manoeuvres around the island, interpreting them as a sustained campaign to pressure its democratically elected government.
In a brief statement, the ministry confirmed the Liaoning’s transit, adding that Taiwan’s armed forces maintained “close and continuous surveillance throughout” the passage.
A black-and-white image released by the ministry showed the carrier with several fighter jets and helicopters visible on its deck, though no further details were provided.
China’s defence ministry has yet to comment on the incident. The last reported instance of a Chinese carrier in the strait was in mid-December, when the Fujian, China’s most advanced vessel, made a similar journey.
The Liaoning is the oldest of China’s three operating aircraft carriers.
In early December, the same ship held drills in waters close to Japan’s southwest island chain.
China says it alone has sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait, a position rejected by both Taipei and Washington which say it is international waters.
The US Navy sends warships through the strait every few months, as do occasionally some US allies.
On Friday, China said it monitored a Japanese warship’s transit in the strait, calling the move “a deliberate provocation”.
Xi Jinping told visiting Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun China would “absolutely not tolerate” independence for the self-governed island and reiterated his call for its “reunification” with the mainland.
In a rare meeting with a Taiwanese political leader, he claimed people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were Chinese and wanted peace.
Though Taiwan has its own democratically-elected government, China claims sovereignty over the island and has threatened to “reunite” it with the mainland by force if necessary. China has recently ramped up military and political pressure against the island.
“Compatriots on both sides of the strait are all Chinese, people of one family who want peace, development, exchange, and cooperation,” he said, adding that the mainland and Taiwan both belonged to “one China”.
“When the family is harmonious, all things will prosper,” he said. “Taiwan independence is the chief culprit in undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait. We will absolutely not tolerate or condone it.”
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