The defense ministry says that the military closely monitored the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong as it was passing through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday. The aircraft carrier and four other supporting Chinese vessels passed through the Taiwan Strait before moving south.
At the Legislature Monday, Deputy Defense Minister Chang Che-ping said that no provocations or conflict took place during the Chinese carrier’s transit through the Taiwan Strait. Chang said preliminary analysis shows that the purpose of the transit was surveying and training. Chang said that the Shandong, China’s first indigenous aircraft carrier was only delivered around a year ago, and so equipment testing and training are still needed.
Chang said the military dispatched six navy vessels and eight aircraft to monitor the Chinese movement, and was on the alert throughout.
Chang also accused China of using non-military or quasi-military means to threaten Taiwan’s people, something he called a new kind of threat. He said that information on Chinese military maneuvers has been published on the defense ministry website in order to keep the public informed.