The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China stated today (23rd) that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Liaoning aircraft carrier formation sailed through the Taiwan Strait on the night of the 22nd, and the national defense forces were closely monitoring and responding appropriately.
The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China released a press release today, indicating that the PLA Liaoning aircraft carrier formation passed north of the Taiwan Strait near the Dongsha Islands on the night of the 22nd. The national defense forces utilized a joint intelligence and surveillance system to tightly grasp the situation and respond accordingly.
Prior to this, the PLA Eastern Theater Command’s public WeChat account released on the 14th that the Liaoning aircraft carrier formation was located east of Taiwan Island, participating in the “Joint Sword-2024B” exercise, conducting exercises in coordination with land, sea, and air forces, including joint air control and sea-land strike operations.
Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office at the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China, Lieutenant General Xie Risheng, stated at a press conference held by the Ministry of National Defense on the 14th that the Liaoning aircraft carrier is an important indicator of the PLA’s ability to achieve its own goals. The national defense forces have long been monitoring the Liaoning aircraft carrier. The scope of activities of the PLA Navy during the exercise this time is not significantly different from previous ones, but due to the presence of the Liaoning aircraft carrier, coupled with the aircraft carried on board for the “Joint Sword-2024B” exercise, it did indeed create certain military pressure on the Taiwanese armed forces.
Xie Risheng stated that the national defense forces have full control of the situation, but it is not convenient to disclose the exact distance between the Liaoning aircraft carrier and Taiwan. “However, it is not in our contingency zone.” In addition, “the national defense forces have taken into account the harassing activities in the gray areas of the PLA as a routine exercise item, so we have included various possible PLA military exercises and military deterrent measures against Taiwan in our regular research and response scenarios.”
Xie Risheng pointed out that the Liaoning aircraft carrier formation is located outside the contingency zone in the southeast of Taiwan, and the national defense forces have anticipated various scenarios and speculated on how to deal with the PLA’s deployment. As for the differences between “Joint Sword-2024B” and “Joint Sword-2024A,” Xie Risheng stated that this time, the Liaoning aircraft carrier roamed the eastern airspace of Taiwan through the launch of J-15 carrier-based aircraft, aiming to demonstrate that the PLA has the capability to exert military pressure on Taiwan from the sea. He judged that during the previous “Joint Sword-2024A” exercise, the Shandong aircraft carrier may have participated, possibly for the purpose of implementing “anti-access/area denial” (A2/AD) against countries supporting Taiwan.
The defense ministers of the G7 issued a joint statement on the 19th expressing concern over the PLA’s military exercises around Taiwan and reiterating that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to international security and prosperity, urging that cross-strait issues must be resolved peacefully. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that it will continue to strengthen cooperation with G7 member countries in the future and work together for the prosperity and stability of the region and the international community.
In addition, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China released information on the dynamic movements of PLA aircraft carriers today. From 6 a.m. on the 22nd to 6 a.m. today, a total of 15 sorties of PLA aircraft (11 of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait into the central, southeastern, and southwestern airspace of Taiwan) and 6 PLA ships continued to operate around the Taiwan Strait. The national defense forces are using mission aircraft and land-based missile systems to closely monitor and respond to these activities.
Furthermore, the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of China issued a press release this morning stating that at 9:09 a.m., the PLA launched a Long March 2A carrier rocket carrying a civilian communication satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province. The flight path passed through the southwestern part of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, heading towards the western Pacific, flying at an altitude outside the atmosphere, posing no threat to Taiwan. The national defense forces are utilizing a joint intelligence and surveillance system to closely monitor the relevant movements and respond appropriately.