Beijing: The aircraft carrier Shandong made its way back to its home port in Hainan "in recent days," according to China's military, after a month-long journey that included transits around Taiwan for training purposes and a show of force as far as the Western Pacific.
The Shandong has been spotted this year as far away as Guam, the Taiwan Strait, and the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. It participated in training exercises that first simulated attacks by fighter jets launched from an aircraft carrier on Taiwan, a country with a democratically elected government, at the beginning of April.
The use of force followed Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, which infuriated Beijing because it was perceived as meddling in China's internal affairs.
Also Read: Imran Khan was arrested because of this businessman!
According to a statement from the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army of China, the Shandong took part in a security patrol around the island of Taiwan as part of the "Joint Sword" military exercise.
"The Shandong carrier group, for the first time, in a formation and of scale, went to the waters of the western Pacific," it was further stated.
The 2019-commissioned carrier has been heavily highlighted in China's military propaganda. China displayed numerous pictures of the Shandong and its fighter jets taking off from the carrier during the drills in April.
Also Read: Britain requests businesses to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles
The USS Milius passed through the Taiwan Strait in what the US Navy described as a "routine" transit days after China finished its most recent war games near the island.
One of China's two active carriers, the Shandong, passed through the Taiwan Strait in March 2022, just hours before the scheduled meeting between the presidents of China and the US.
Also Read: Thais anticipate punishing electoral defeats for the military parties
In an effort to compel Taiwan to recognise Chinese sovereignty, China has increased military pressure on Taiwan in recent years. Beijing has never renounced using force to seize control of the island.