Taiwan: "Chinese Shandong Aircraft Carrier Group Approaches 222km Waters Near Taiwan"

Seeming to Be Conscious of the Korea-US Summit Meeting

Reports on the 24th stated that the Shandong aircraft carrier strike group of China is positioned about 120 nautical miles (approximately 222 km) off the southeastern coast of Taiwan.

According to major foreign media, the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced in a statement that the Shandong carrier strike group is conducting training in the Pacific Ocean and is positioned 120 nautical miles southeast of Ormbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan, and will pass through the area. The Taiwanese military added that they are closely monitoring the situation and responding appropriately.

The Shandong previously sailed through the Taiwan Strait in March last year, which was just hours before a video call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden.

China has announced military exercises ahead of the South Korea-U.S. summit on the 26th, and there is speculation that the movement of the Shandong carrier strike group is related to this. It is believed to be an attempt to influence discussions on Taiwan issues that will be raised at the summit.

The Shandong also conducted war rehearsal-style military exercises encircling Taiwan from the 8th to the 10th of last month, reportedly in response to the meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.