Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sails to western Pacific, says Taiwan

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed to the western Pacific on Monday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said the aircraft carrier of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sailed 60 nautical miles (111km) southeast of Taiwan into the western Pacific.

Shandong is a home-built Chinese aircraft carrier in service since 2019.

Besides, the ministry said it also detected 13 PLA aircraft “11 of which crossed the median line or entered our southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ).”

China, which considers Taiwan as its “breakaway province,” does not recognize the median line nor ADIZ. Taipei, however, insists on its independence since 1949.

Taiwan’s armed forces “monitored the situation and tasked CAP (combat air patrol) aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond,” said the ministry.