Tensions rise as China’s aircraft carrier sails through Taiwan Strait

Taipei: China’s sole aircraft carrier has passed through the Taiwan Strait, the island’s defence ministry said Wednesday, as Beijing warned against any move to “separate the country”.

The Liaoning and accompanying vessels entered Taiwan’s air defence zone on Tuesday and left around noon Wednesday, the ministry



said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a blistering nationalist speech on Tuesday, warning against what he called any attempts to split China.

“All acts and tricks to separate the country are doomed to fail and will be condemned by the people and punished by history,” Xi said in an address ending the annual session of the National People’s Congress.