The picture shows aircraft carrier Shandong Places in a naval port in Sanya. Photo: China Military
The alleged transit of the ShandongThe second aircraft carrier of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, through the Taiwan Straits on Friday, is possibly a routine arrangement and should not be linked to communications between the Chinese and US heads of state, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the ministry, made the remarks at the regular press conference on Friday when asked about the issue.
Citing Taiwan Defense Authority, Reuters reported on Friday that the Shandong sailed through the streets of Taiwan just hours before Chinese and US presidents were due to speak.
The PLA Navy aircraft carrier is sailing near the Taiwan-administered island of Kinmen, which sits directly opposite the Chinese mainland city of Xiamen, an anonymous source who claimed to have immediate knowledge of the matter was quoted as saying by Reuters.
The USS Ralph Johnsonan Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyer, the carrier at least partially estimated on its route, and the Shandong had no aircraft on deck and sailed north through the road, according to Reuters sources.
Zhao said that while he was not aware of the specific situation regarding the Shandong Aircraft carrier, he was sure that the aircraft carrier had a routine training arrangement, and one should not associate it with the communication between the Chinese and the US heads of state.
The PLA Navy or the China Ministry of Defense has yet to make a statement on the Shandongseng Rees.
This would not be the first time you Shandong is sailing through the Taiwan road as similar transits took place in November 2019, December 2019 and December 2020.
Senior Captain Liu Wensheng, a spokesman for the PLA Navy, said during the December 2020 voyage that the carrier’s cross-regional maneuver would be a normal arrangement in line with its annual plan, and the PLA Navy would continue operations such as this. on training requirements.
A Beijing-based military analyst told the Global Times on Friday that the Shandong could hold cross-regional maneuvers, from its home port in Sanya, southern China’s Hainan province, and it could collaborate with Liaoning, the PLA Navy’s first aircraft carrier, ported home to Qingdao, East China Shandong Province, in a unique Dual Carrier Group training.
Another possibility is that, as Reuters said Shandong had no aircraft on its deck, the carrier was returned to Dalian Shipyard in northeastern Liaoning province for maintenance, the analyst said.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military commentator, also told the Global Times that he Shandong was probably on his way back to his shipyard in Dalian.
It is necessary for aircraft carriers to return to the yard for regular maintenance after a period of intensive use, so it is normal for the Shandong passing through the streets of Taiwan, which is the shortest route, analysts said.
Another Chinese mainland military expert, who asked for anonymity, told the Global Times that the so-called source quoted by Reuters is likely to be some US officials who were aware of some negative issues ahead of the meeting between the leaders of the two countries. lined up, trying to play Taiwan. Map.
There is no problem with PLA ships passing through the Taiwan Strait, the expert said, noting that people should ask themselves why the US is hyping tensions in the Taiwan Strait when the international community responds to the Russia-Ukraine situation focused, and when China calls for peace and talks.
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