Taiwan’s defence ministry said the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong went through the Taiwan Strait with two other ships on Saturday.

According to the ministry, the Shandong, which was commissioned in 2019, sailed northerly through the strait around midday, sticking to its middle line, which serves as an unofficial barrier between the two sides.

In a brief statement, the ministry said, “Taiwan’s military closely observed the group using its own ships and aircraft and responded appropriately”.

Last month, the Shandong took part in Chinese military drills outside Taiwan, operating in the western Pacific.

The Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait in March of last year, just hours before the Chinese and US presidents were scheduled to meet.

After formally completing its war games last month, China has conducted military activities on a reduced scale around Taiwan.

Taiwan’s defence ministry also announced on Saturday that eight Chinese fighter jets had crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line in the previous 24 hours, something Chinese warplanes have been doing on a regular basis since earlier war games last August.

China has never renounced the use of force to seize control of Taiwan.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen firmly opposes Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, claiming that only the people of the island can decide their future.

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