Taiwan on alert as Chinese aircraft carrier looms nearby
The Taiwanese army was put on combat readiness on Sunday following the detection of a Chinese aircraft carrier south of the island, as stated by the Taiwanese Ministry of Defence in an official press release.
"The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning has entered the waters near the Bashi Channel and is likely heading towards the western Pacific," the ministry reported.
The statement added that the "army remains on alert, ready to respond if necessary."
Earlier on Sunday at 8:00 AM Eastern Time, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese army, responsible for the area encompassing Taiwan, released a propaganda film on its social media accounts titled: "Fully prepared and waiting for the time before the battle."
China wants "reunification" with Taiwan
Last Thursday, the ministry recorded the presence of 27 aircraft and 14 surface vessels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army near Taiwan.
China has not ruled out the possibility of using military force to regain control over Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory. Over the past two years, China has conducted three large-scale military manoeuvres, employing its air and naval forces to encircle the island.
The leader of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, does not rule out the possibility of armed intervention. According to him, "the reunification of the motherland is inevitable" and it is a condition for the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" that he promotes.
