Chinese warship group sails toward Taiwan amid rising tensions
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Taiwan announced on Wednesday that it had detected a Chinese aircraft carrier group, led by the Liaoning, heading towards the waters separating Taiwan and China.
This comes just a day after Beijing conducted live-fire drills near the self-governed island.
The warship group was spotted near the Pratas Islands, about 400 kilometers southwest of Taiwan, before continuing its course northward toward the Taiwan Strait, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry.
The rising military activity around Taiwan is part of China's broader efforts to pressure the island into accepting its sovereignty claims.
In recent years, Beijing has increased its military presence in the region, including large-scale drills around Taiwan. Last week, the Liaoning took part in these exercises, which included encircling the island with a record number of fighter jets and warships. Both Taipei and its key ally, Washington, condemned these drills, labeling them a "stern warning" from China against Taiwan's push for independence.
On Tuesday, China also announced a live-fire exercise just 105 kilometers from Taiwan, further escalating tensions in the region. Over the weekend, the U.S. and Canada responded with a joint naval passage through the Taiwan Strait, reinforcing the waterway’s international status. Beijing criticized this move, accusing Washington and its allies of disrupting peace in the region.