China’s aircraft carrier sails by Taiwan as tensions rise
Taiwan said on 21 March it had scrambled jets and sent ships to track the passage of a Chinese aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing’s leader gave the island a fierce warning against separatism.
The Liaoning and accompanying vessels entered Taiwan’s air defence zone on 20 March, the same day Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured) delivered a blistering nationalistic speech – warning against what he called any attempts to split China.
In an address ending the annual session of the National People’s Congress, Xi said: ‘All acts and tricks to separate the country are doomed to fail and will be condemned by the people and punished by history.’
China, which sees self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, has stepped up air and naval patrols around the island since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in May 2016.
She refuses publicly to accept the ‘one China’ formula agreed between Beijing and Taiwan’s previous government.
Chinese warplanes conducted 25 drills around Taiwan between August 2016 and mid-December 2017, according to Taipei.
The Liaoning, currently China’s only aircraft carrier, left around noon on 21 March, Taiwan’s defence ministry said.
The Soviet-built ship caused a stir in Taiwan when it first entered the strait in January 2017 in what was seen as a show of strength by Beijing.
It sailed past Taiwan again in July 2017 en route to Hong Kong and returned in January 2018.
China still sees Taiwan as its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, even though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war and have been ruled separately ever since.
The carrier’s latest voyage came days after US President Donald Trump signed new rules allowing top-level US officials to travel to Taiwan.
An irked Beijing has called on Washington to ‘correct its mistake’.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Wong is currently visiting the island and will speak at a business dinner alongside Taiwanese President Tsai later on 21 March.
Taiwan’s Defence Minister Yeh De-fa said: ‘We are monitoring the whole process of the Liaoning’s cross-region drill.’
The defence ministry said no unusual activities by the carrier group had been spotted ‘and we urge the public to rest assured.’
More from Defence Notes
-
![From systems integrator to multi-domain solutions provider (video)]()
From systems integrator to multi-domain solutions provider (video)
Philipp von Brandenstein, Head of Corporate Communications at Rheinmetall, explains how Eurosatory 2026 marked a new stage in the company's evolution.
-
![US Pentagon pushes for major reform of defence acquisition system]()
US Pentagon pushes for major reform of defence acquisition system
The US Department of Defense has requested new contracting authorities from Congress, using the Army's MV-75 Cheyenne programme to demonstrate how competition, digital engineering and closer industry collaboration could accelerate acquisitions.
-
![US speeds up B61-13 nuclear bomb production as programme moves further ahead of schedule]()
US speeds up B61-13 nuclear bomb production as programme moves further ahead of schedule
The US government plans to accelerate production even further after achieving key B61-13 milestones months ahead of schedule, as the programme advances amid growing US-China strategic competition.
-
![Canada’s C$2 billion ACSV deal reinforces new defence industrial strategy as allies align]()
Canada’s C$2 billion ACSV deal reinforces new defence industrial strategy as allies align
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada is the country’s first strategic partner under the Defence Industrial Strategy’s Strategic Partnership Framework, an effort to provide companies with confidence to invest and boost the defence labour force.
-
![New UK armed forces minister frames High North defence as vital to “homeland security”]()
New UK armed forces minister frames High North defence as vital to “homeland security”
The UK’s Minister for the Armed Forces Louise Sandher-Jones made her first appearance in the role before the House of Commons Defence Committee this week to highlight efforts to improve capability in the High North.
-
![Canada seeks to strengthen industrial ties with the US on classified programmes]()
Canada seeks to strengthen industrial ties with the US on classified programmes
Ottawa explores expanding defence-industrial cooperation with Washington into sensitive programmes, an approach that could reshape NORAD modernisation, strengthen North American supply chains and create new opportunities for defence contractors.
