Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo expressed concerns over China’s military activities, particularly the recent simultaneous operations of two Chinese aircraft carriers in the Pacific, signaling Beijing’s “expansionist” goals. The Chinese carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, were identified as part of a broader strategy to extend China’s naval capabilities beyond its shores, with Japan’s defense minister echoing this sentiment. Koo emphasized that their maneuvers crossed from the first island chain—which includes Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines—into the second island chain, extending towards U.S. territories like Guam, highlighting the political implications of these movements.
China’s navy, however, characterized the operations as regular training exercises with no specific target. Taiwan remains vigilant about Chinese military activities, particularly given the increasing frequency of naval drills and the presence of Chinese vessels in East Asian waters since May, which has raised alarms in the region. Japan’s defense ministry confirmed that the aircraft carriers were operating in separate areas of the Pacific, near Japan’s southern islands. Notably, the Liaoning was reported to have sailed within Japan’s exclusive economic zone near Minamitorishima. This escalation in military presence and activities underscores the growing tension between China and neighboring countries, including Taiwan and Japan, as concerns mount over China’s intentions in the region.
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