Chinese Aircraft Carrier Sails Through Taiwan Strait Amid Tensions

Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Saturday accompanied by two other ships.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense gave the development, amid the military tensions over the island Beijing claims as its own territory.

"A (People's Liberation Army Navy) flotilla of 3 ships, led by the Shangdong aircraft carrier, passed through the Taiwan Strait around noon today," the ministry said in a statement, referring to China's navy.

The flotilla went "to the west of the median line, heading northward," it added, referring to the unofficial border in the middle of the strait which separates the island from continental Asia.

Saturday's latest show of force comes more than a month after China also launched aerial and naval exercises around the island.

China claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as its territory, and has vowed to take it one day – by force if necessary.