TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Sunday (Oct. 13) said China's aircraft carrier the Liaoning had entered waters south of Taiwan.
On Sunday afternoon, the MND announced that a carrier strike group led by the Liaoning navigated into the waters near the Bashi Channel. The ministry predicted that the Liaoning would enter the West Pacific.
The MND said the military is using joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methods to monitor the situation and sent combat patrol aircraft and naval vessels and deployed land-based air defense missile systems in response.
On Sept. 18, the MND said that the Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group passed through the waters northeast of Taiwan and continued its course toward the southeast of Japan's Yonaguni Island. On Oct. 2, Japan's Joint Staff Office reported that the Liaoning had been maneuvering in the Pacific since September.
Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 1, aircraft conducted approximately 630 takeoffs and landings from the Liaoning, according to the Joint Staff Office. It assessed that the Liaoning moved southwest to the waters east of the Philippines between Oct. 1 and 2.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command announced on Monday (Oct. 14) that its army, navy, air force, and rocket forces were conducting the "Joint Sword-2024B" exercise in the Taiwan Strait and areas north, south, and east of Taiwan. The MND strongly condemned these “irrational provocative actions” and said military forces have been deployed in response.
