Taiwan says on 鈥榓lert鈥� as China aircraft carrier detected to its south

Honor guards lower the Taiwanese flag during a ceremony at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan October 12, 2024. (REUTERS)
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  • China has ramped up military activity around Taiwan in recent years

TAIPEI: Taiwan was on 鈥渁lert鈥� as it detected a Chinese aircraft carrier to its south on Sunday, the self-ruled island鈥檚 defense ministry said.
鈥淐hina鈥檚 Liaoning aircraft carrier group has entered waters near the Bashi Channel and is likely to proceed into the western Pacific,鈥� the ministry said in a statement, adding that its military 鈥渞emains on alert, prepared to respond as necessary.鈥�
China has ramped up military activity around Taiwan in recent years, sending in warplanes and other military aircraft while Chinese ships maintain a near-constant presence around its waters.
The Liaoning aircraft carrier detection comes after US State Secretary Antony Blinken warned China on Friday against taking any 鈥減rovocative鈥� action on Taiwan, following a speech by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te during the island鈥檚 National Day celebrations a day earlier.
Lai, who China calls a 鈥渟eparatist,鈥� vowed Thursday to 鈥渞esist annexation鈥� of the island, and insisted Beijing and Taipei were 鈥渘ot subordinate to each other.鈥�
China warned after the speech that Lai鈥檚 鈥減rovocations鈥� would result in 鈥渄isaster鈥� for the people of Taiwan.