What is the purpose of the aircraft carrier Liaoning passing through the Taiwan Strait? The Ministry of Defense responds.
On the afternoon of April 30, the Ministry of Defense held a press conference, where spokesperson Colonel Zhang Xiaogang answered reporters' questions.
A reporter asked, according to reports, recently the Liaoning and Sichuan ships transited the Taiwan Strait, and the Taiwan defense department stated that they conducted close monitoring. Some media claimed that the actions of the Liaoning were a show of force towards Taiwan and a response to Japanese ships transiting the Taiwan Strait. What is your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang stated that Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and the transit of the Liaoning and Sichuan ships through the Taiwan Strait to conduct training in relevant waters is a routine arrangement aimed at enhancing the capability to fulfill mission tasks.
The Liaoning and Sichuan ships conducted routine training exercises in the Taiwan Strait on April 30. This operation was closely monitored by Taiwan's defense department and was described as a show of force in response to Japanese naval activities. The Chinese government emphasized that Taiwan is part of China and that the naval passage was a standard operational procedure.
- The Liaoning and Sichuan ships transited the Taiwan Strait.
- The action was described as routine training.
- Taiwan's defense department monitored the passage closely.
- The operation was characterized as a show of force against Taiwan and Japan.