China's aircraft carrier battle group enters Taiwan's ADIZ

Central News Agency

2017/07/02 16:58:26

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense said Sunday that China's naval formation headed by the Liaoning aircraft carrier entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) a day earlier and was sailing southwest along the Taiwan Strait.

The battle group was west of the strait's mid-line, the ministry said, anticipating that it would leave the ADIZ at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

Under military regulations for handling quickly changing conditions during periods of regular combat readiness, the military has dispatched aircraft and ships that are monitoring the formation's movement and will take responsive action in the event of any abrupt situation, the ministry said.

"Currently no such situation has occurred," it added.

Meanwhile, Liang Yang (梁陽), a spokesman for the People's Liberation Army Navy, told the press that the formation, comprising the Liaoning, the destroyers Ji'nan and Yinchuan, the frigate Yantai and a squadron of J-15 fighter jets and helicopters, will head to Hong Kong in early July to attend celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover.

(By Hu Hsin-hui and Elizabeth Hsu)
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