TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Wednesday (Oct. 23) said China's Liaoning aircraft carrier transited the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday. 

The MND said the Liaoning carrier strike group navigated near Dongsha Island on Tuesday evening before heading north through the strait. The MND monitored the transit and sent aircraft and naval vessels and deployed land-based missile systems in response. 

On Oct. 13, the MND said Liaoning's carrier strike group was detected near the Bashi Channel. The ministry said the Liaoning would likely enter the West Pacific.

China subsequently announced the Joint Sword-2024B military drills around Taiwan on Oct. 14. According to an MND press conference that day, the Liaoning operated outside Taiwan's southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during the exercises, with Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter jets taking off and entering Taiwan’s eastern ADIZ.

At the press conference, the MND said the drills were aimed at countering anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) operations of nations that might come to Taiwan's aid. It said the exercises were also meant to demonstrate China's capability to exert military pressure on Taiwan from the sea.