China sailed an aircraft carrier through the sensitive #Taiwan Strait on Friday, shadowed by a U.S. destroyer, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, just hours before the Chinese and U.S. presidents were due to talk. usnews.com/news/world/art….
The source, who was not authorised to speak to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the carrier Shandong sailed close to the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen, which sits directly opposite the Chinese city of Xiamen.
"Around 10:30 a.m. the CV-17 appeared around 30 nautical miles to the southwest of Kinmen, and was photographed by a passenger on a civilian flight," the source said, referring to the Shandong's official service number.
The USS Ralph Johnson, an Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer, shadowed the carrier, which did not have aircraft on its deck and sailed north through the strait, the source added.
Taiwan also sent warships to keep an eye on the situation, the source said.
Taiwan also sent warships to keep an eye on the situation, the source said.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry declined to comment but said its forces always keep close tabs on Chinese activity in the Taiwan Strait and "respond in accordance with standard procedures".
U.S. Navy spokesperson Lt. Mark Langford said the Ralph Johnson had "conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit March 17 (local time) through international waters in accordance with international law". He did not elaborate.
Chinese Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian referred questions to the Defence Ministry - which did not immediately responded to a request for comment - but said the Shandong has a "routine training schedule".
"We should not associate this with the communication between the heads of state of China and the United States. You may think it is too sensitive. What is sensitive is you, not the Taiwan Strait," Zhao told reporters in Beijing.
The sailing happened about 12 hours before U.S. President Joe Biden is due to speak to his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
The source described the timing of the Shandong's movement so close to that call as "provocative", and that it was unusual it sailed during daylight hours, with previous missions happening at night.
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