Dispute with Washington: China sends first self-built aircraft carrier through Taiwan Strait

Taiwan Strait Alarm: China has sent its first self-built aircraft carrier, accompanied by other warships, through the straits. A Chinese government spokesman confirmed on Monday statements by the Taiwan Defense Ministry on Sunday. According to the Chinese formation military ships of the United States and Japan were followed.

The aircraft carrier type 002 had driven from the East China Sea in the Taiwan Strait, the Ministry of Defense had informed. Taiwan's military had watched the situation using fighter jets. A spokesman for the Chinese Navy said the ship was underway for "scientific testing and routine training" in the sea area.

The narrow strait divides democratically governed Taiwan from mainland China. The US and many other states regard the Straits as international waters. Beijing, on the other hand, sees the passage of the road through foreign ships as an attack on its sovereignty.

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper accused the Beijing government in talks with its Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on Sunday to increasingly use "coercion and intimidation" in the region to "pursue its strategic goals." He did not comment on the passage of the aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait.

For its part, the Chinese government warned the US against "muscle games" in the region. These only created "new uncertainties" and would escalate tensions in the South China Sea, a government spokesman said.

"NO to China"

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu wrote on Twitter that President Tsai Ing-wen simultaneously named former Prime Minister William Lai as her runner-up for the January 2020 election. Wu therefore accused China of wanting to influence the election campaign. "Voters are not intimidated, they will say NO to China at the ballot box."

Just as @iingwen names her running mate & the campaign shifts into high gear, #PLA sends its new 002 aircraft carrier battle group into the #TaiwanStrait. #PRC intends to intervene in # Taiwan's elections. Voters does not want to be intimidated! They'll say NO to #China at the ballot box. JW

According to the Japan Times newspaper, Lai incensed the government in Beijing last year by advocating Taiwan's formal independence from China.