Chinese Aircraft Carrier Liaoning's Journey in the Taiwan Strait

A Chinese aircraft carrier group, led by the Liaoning, passed through the Taiwan Strait, prompting Taiwan's military to monitor the fleet. The Liaoning was part of recent war games near Taiwan. China's Ministry of Defence did not comment on the passage.

This week, a Chinese aircraft carrier group, spearheaded by the Liaoning, traversed the Taiwan Strait, after navigating waters near Taiwan's Pratas Islands, reported Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday.

Spotted on Tuesday night, the Chinese fleet, including the Liaoning—China's oldest aircraft carrier—was closely monitored by Taiwan's forces. The Pratas Islands sit at the South China Sea's northern perimeter. Upon being contacted outside business hours, China's Ministry of Defense offered no comment.

Recently, the Liaoning participated in military exercises close to Taiwan, an area Beijing claims despite staunch opposition from Taipei. The carrier was seen off Taiwan's southeast coast launching aircraft as part of these drills. Furthermore, last month, Japan confirmed the Liaoning entered its contiguous waters for the first time.