China Sends Lioning Aircraft Carrier Combat Group To Waters Near Taiwan

Chinese carrier battle group. (Source: defensesitrep.tumblr.com)

JAKARTA - The Chinese Navy announced their carrier battle group was holding exercises in waters near Taiwan. The announcement, made Monday evening, adds to the escalation of tensions in the region in recent months.

The Chinese Navy said the combat group was led by the aircraft carrier Liaoning, the first aircraft carrier in China's military ranks. This group is said to be routinely doing exercises in these waters.

"The aim is to increase capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty, safety, and development interests", said the Chinese Navy as reported by Reuters.

The Chinese statement followed the Taiwan Ministry of Defense reporting a "new attack" by the Chinese air force, on the Taiwan air defense identification zone on Monday.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said it had a "full understanding" of the situation in the air and sea around Taiwan. And, his party is ready to "properly handle" the problem.

Taiwan has complained of increased Chinese military activity nearby in recent months as China stepped up efforts to assert sovereignty over the democratically run island.

Earlier, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said on Sunday, the Liaoning Carrier, accompanied by five escort ships, had transited through the Miyako Strait en route to the Pacific.

China's Global Times, a media affiliated with the Chinese Government, said, Nanchang, a new, more modern Type 055 destroyer that entered service last year, is included in this carrier group.

"The combination of the carrier and the large destroyer Type 055 will be the standard configuration of China's aircraft carrier task group in the future", the Chinese Navy added.

For information, the Liaoning Carrier and its sister ship, the Shandong, have conducted training or sailed near Taiwan before.

In December 2019, shortly before the presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan, Shandong sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, a move that Taiwan condemned as an attempt of intimidation.

Taiwan is China's most sensitive territorial issue and a potential military conflict. China has never abandoned the use of force to bring the island under its control.

To deal with this, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen directly oversaw the country's military reforms, including the launch of several new weapons, such as the 'carrier killer' stealth corvette.