Japan and Taiwan announced on Tuesday that the PLA Navy has dispatched an eight-ship Liaoning aircraft carrier group to the western Pacific Ocean.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense said in a statement (pdf) Eight Chinese naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier, passed between the southern islands of Japan’s main island of Okinawa on Monday.
According to a statement, Liaoning and its five strike groups were first discovered on Sunday about 350 kilometers (217 miles) southwest of the Danjo Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. Another destroyer and frigate joined the fleet at the end of Sunday and the beginning of Monday.
Chinese warships discovered by the Japanese Army included the Type 055 large guided-missile destroyer Nanchang, the 052D guided-missile destroyer Chengdu, and the Type 901 fast combat support ship.
Although there was no invasion of Japan’s territorial waters, the ministry claimed that at least one warship landed within 160 km (99 miles) of the Taisho Islands near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands. report.
The ministry said Japan had deployed Izumo light aircraft carriers, P-1 maritime patrol aircraft, and P-3C anti-submarine patrol aircraft to monitor the activities of Chinese vessels.
Meanwhile, the Taiwan Ministry of Defense Said Issued a radio warning and deployed an air defense missile system to monitor the movement of Chinese naval vessels.
The Liaoning Aircraft Carrier Group, consisting of eight warships, was believed to be “the largest ship heading to the open sea in recent voyages.” according to In the Global Times of China’s state-owned news agency.
A PLA Navy spokesman, Gao Xiucheng, said on Tuesday that the warships are undergoing regular combat training in the Western Pacific. Gao argued that the deployment was in line with international law and did not cover any party.
Tensions between the autonomous Taiwanese and Beijing governments are increasing as China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and vows to conquer the island with force as needed.
follow
Aldgra Fredly is a Malaysia-based freelance writer featuring the Epoch Times Asia Pacific News.