27-10-2023 (TAIPEI) Taiwan reported on Thursday that a Chinese flotilla, led by the Shandong aircraft carrier, had entered the Pacific Ocean through the Bashi Channel, a crucial waterway that separates Taiwan from the Philippines.
In recent years, democratic Taiwan has faced mounting military and political pressure from Beijing, which claims the island as its territory and has expressed its intent to seize it, even by force if deemed necessary.
Taipei’s Ministry of National Defense has been recording near-daily incursions by Chinese military aircraft, which, over the past year, have conducted extensive war games in the waters surrounding Taiwan.
On Thursday, the Ministry confirmed that China’s “Shandong Carrier Strike Group crossed the Bashi Channel today and entered the Western Pacific.” Taiwan’s military is closely monitoring the situation and has deployed the necessary forces to respond.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry had also reported detecting 15 Chinese warplanes flying across the median line that divides the Taiwan Strait, a 180-kilometre (110-mile) waterway separating Taiwan from mainland China. These flights occurred between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm (2200 GMT Wednesday to 0400 GMT Thursday). The announcement stated that the aircraft conducted joint combat patrols alongside vessels from the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
Taiwan’s defense minister had previously noted that China had escalated “military intimidation” by increasing the number of warplanes circling the island. In September, Taiwan recorded a “recent high” of 103 Chinese warplanes, accompanied by nine navy ships.
The Ministry has condemned China’s “military harassment,” expressing concerns that such actions could lead to a sharp escalation in tension and worsen regional security.
China’s Shandong aircraft carrier spotted operating in the South China Sea on October 21. pic.twitter.com/7WvrIImlcE
— Duan Dang (@duandang) October 21, 2023
