Taiwan: Chinese Aircraft Carriers Sailed Through the Strait

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense reported that a "group of Chinese aircraft carriers led by the ship (Shandong) sailed through the Taiwan Strait today, Wednesday, amid rising military tensions regarding the island, which Beijing considers part of its territory." The ministry noted that "Shandong, which entered service in 2019, sailed southward through the western part of the strait," emphasizing that it has "deployed appropriate forces to monitor Chinese activities." The aircraft carrier operates in the western Pacific Ocean and participated in Chinese military exercises around Taiwan in April. China, which has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, has intensified its military activities near the democratically governed island to compel it to accept Chinese sovereignty. Taiwan fiercely rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and vows to defend itself in the event of any attacks.