As China protested a meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the administration said Thursday that it monitors a Chinese aircraft carrier but does not foresee a major escalation.
McCarthy, the third-highest-ranking U.S. official, and other Republicans and Democrats visited Tsai on Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
The meeting took place at a low point in U.S.-China relations and despite threats of punishment from Beijing, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own and has never renounced using force to subjugate it.
Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told parliament reporters in Taipei that the Shandong was sighted 200 nautical miles (370 km) off Taiwan’s east coast on Wednesday.
Chiu added, “It is training but the timing is pretty sensitive, and what it is up to we are still researching.” No aircraft has taken off from its deck.
He subsequently informed MPs that Taiwanese warships were watching the ship five to six nautical miles east of the southern point of Taiwan.
According to the defense ministry, a Japanese warship was watching the Chinese group of three ships, including a frigate and a support ship.
Japan had never seen the 2019-commissioned Shandong enter the Sea.
China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t comment on the carrier’s activities.
China has previously sailed aircraft carriers near Taiwan at key moments.
The Shandong crossed the Taiwan Strait hours before the Chinese and U.S. presidents met last March.
Chiu claimed the USS Nimitz is 400 nautical miles east of Taiwan.
“It can’t be stated it’s here for us,” he remarked.
The Navy stated that it “would not speculate on future activities of the USS Nimitz.”
China held military drills around Taiwan in August after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei.
On Thursday, U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul led a new congressional delegation to Taiwan.
Tsai’s office said she’d meet McCaul’s group on Saturday after returning to Taipei on Friday.
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