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© 2024 AFPTaipei says Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through Taiwan Strait
By Joy Chiang and Amber Wang TAIPEI©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
49 Comments
lincolnman
Whether its with a couple of LRASMs, a few "Quicksinks", or a Mark 48 ADCAP, that Chinese carrier is a dead man sailing...
JJE
Important to observe non-UN recognized Taiwan province has no legitimate claim to the Taiwan Strait.
Also, this is the ex-Soviet carrier Varyag, which was sold off by independent Ukraine to China. Relevant to observe they sold off lots of things on the international arms markets over the years to certain quarters. What an irony.
deanzaZZR
So much bravado. On the other hand Chinese aircraft in bases in Fujian and Zhejiang are just a few minutes away on afterburner to Taiwan. Geography matter.
Having said that let peace prevail for Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Liaoning is headed back to port in Shandong NE China, simply sailing off of the Chinese coast.
Mr Kipling
Chinese ship sailing in Chinese and international waters. Slow news day?
WoodyLee
As I have always stated , China will not take Taiwan by a military force, they will just consume it if not already have. Too may eyes are watchin China so they will just do it covertly.
konjo4u
China supports a war against the country that sold the ship to them.
Blacklabel
Yeah I mean it’s like leftists here think these things are unmanned or something.
not staffed by regular young people serving their country at sea who have loving family.
People who in no way, shape or form deserve to be attacked and sunk to the ocean floor when there isn’t even a war.
just cause “the Soviets” made it. Now leftists even have hate for inanimate objects- not just people.
(Super inconvenient that Ukraine sold it to them though)
Fighto!
Oh, cry more, comrade.
You really are working hard for your CCP.
isabelle
Actually, no they're not serving their country. The PLA serves the Chinese Communist Party, not the country/people of China. It does not pledge allegiance to China the country.
And so, if the CCP orders the PLA to attack the people of China, that's what it does (cf. Tiananmen massacre and many other instances).
Peter14
Taiwan will never willingly accept PRC sovereignty over it. Clearly the only way for China to take control of Taiwan and its people is through war, occupation and annexation. A large number of people on both sides will die as a result of Xi's ambitions of Empire and becoming the first modern day Emperor of China.
Important to observe that PRC China a former non UN-recognized province of Taiwan (ROC) has no legitimate claim to international waters in the Taiwan strait. Nor does it have any legitimate claim to Taiwan and its population for as long as they wish to remain free.
Wasabi
Yes, it is because their are best friend with trump.
TaiwanIsNotChina
They can take their ski jump through. It is international waters.
Zaphod
Christopher
War is already here, but it is not and will not be a shooting war about Taiwan, unless the US makes it so. Of course Peking wants to rule Taiwan, but their way is slow pressure and influence. It is sad that American politicians and media see the every conflict as a military one problem to be solved with their bombs and aircraft carriers.
RichardPearce
So, somebody wants us to be alarmed that a Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through Chinese waters, after taking part in a Chinese exercise which practiced for exercising Chinese sovereignty over what is internationally recognized Chinese territory.
isabelle
They clearly don't. Perhaps you have missed all the diplomacy and legislation related to Taiwan, like the Taiwan Relations Act, Taiwan Travel Act, TAIPEI Act, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Relations_Act
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Travel_Act
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Allies_International_Protection_and_Enhancement_Initiative_Act
Even right down to things like ensuring maps are accurate, and do not wrongly depict Taiwan as part of the PRC:
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/4468061
Pukey2
So let me get this right. China sends ships a few miles from its land and the usual JT suspects cry foul and have a hissy fit. But when ships sail from half way round the world and go through a narrow strait right next to China, they're beating their chests and singing hallelujah? Last time I checked, the Taiwan Strait was located in between Mainland China and Taiwan. Let's see how the warmongers like it if Chinese ships sailed near Florida or California. 800 US military bases around the world, many with weapons pointing at China, and US is the good guy? Mon oeil.
Joe
Nice big fat target for the new carrier based stand-off munitions.
Joe
Ih the irony of a Putin lover calling the opponents of Communist expansion “leftists”.
True and an irony multiplier.
Blackstar
*Over the weekend, a U.S. and a Canadian warship passed through the 180-kilometer Taiwan Strait, part of regular passages by Washington and its allies meant to reinforce its status as an international waterway.*
Yes, international. China is a nation. Need we say more? It's not smart for posters to fan the flames of hatred unnecessarily. Shocked to find myself in agreement with Blacklabel & Zaphod about something. Everyone needs to try a bit harder to stay calm these days.
Fighto!
Richard Pearce -
The Taiwan Strait is NOT "Chinese waters."
Plrase, try to keep up.
fallaffel
This is a pure clickbait story. Not even Taiwan is protesting the passage of this ship. They just want us to click and bicker in the comments.
JJE
The title should be "Chinese ship sails through Chinese waters" (Taiwan Strait).
HooKnows
Oh Lord. The sheer lack of comprehension here, either legitimate or feigned so as to advance the agenda of certain dictatorial regional powers is staggering, but let's spell it out.
This is a big deal because China has repeatedly threatened to take Taiwan by force, Xi has told his military to prepare for war by 2027, and constant Chinese wargames and routine aerial intrusions occur with regularity around the island.
This idea, as if "Hurr durr it's just like if the US sailed an CAG past Mexico! hurr durr" is just laughable; it would only be comparable if the US was actively speaking of invading Mexico, telling their military to prepare for war with Mexico , viewed Mexico as their perosnal property, and was actively planning an invasion of Mexico.
This goes for any military, anywhere. It's a big deal when you rumble your warships past the land you yourself say you are going to take back by force
So, yes, when an authoritarian regime who is rapidly expanding their armed forces and openly speaks of preparing for war to invade an island nation a few hundred miles from their border sails their premier warship nearby...it's not like you going on your Norweigan CruiseLines cruise to the Med. The naivete here is astounding.
Peter14
But then it would be wrong wouldn't it. Taiwan Strait being international waters and all.
TaiwanIsNotChina
But it is not Chinese waters.
Important to observe Taiwan has more recognition than russia's disgraces and nobody has claim to the Taiwan Strait.
They didn't know they needed to keep their weapons to fend off heinous assaults.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Do we need a good relationship with China and to be friends again? Show us how far you have come, Mr. MAGA.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Sources that even a majority recognize Taiwan as part of China? Many take the US position of merely acknowledging the claim and not taking an opinion on it.
JJE
When mainland China has non-UN recognized Taiwan province reunify with it, Beijing will have a rock-solid claim to the Taiwan Strait. Their case right now is suitably strong, just as strong as the 11/9 dash line claim.
TaiwanIsNotChina
I'm glad you used the term "rock-solid" because rocks do not generate baseline:
So not at all. Got it.
deanzaZZR
Foreign vessel passage of the Taiwan Strait must adhere to this UNCLOS provision.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Not territorial sea so doesn't apply.
JJE
Certain quarters forget that non-UN recogniced Taiwan province includes a series of islands scattered on both sides of the strait. When these are returned to Beijing, along with the province, the strait will be Chinese (even though it is already).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Taiwan#/media/File:Kinmen,Matsu,Wuciou.png
TaiwanIsNotChina
Certain quarters should observe that there is more than 28 nm separating all the islands in the strait and the PRC will never be an achepelagic state.
Fighto!
Richard Pearce -
Basically, all the things Richard Pearce is hoping for. But won't get.
I'm just shocked that, for once, you haven't wrapped it all up as some sort of "Zionist conspiracy".
lincolnman
Well this is not surprising - our far-right friends after groveling to Putin, are now groveling to Xi...
Tomorrow they'll be groveling to the Ayatollah...
Seems there's no America-hating dictator they won't bow down to...
quercetum
It's Aesop's fable of the Sun and the Wind. The sun is going to make the man take off his cloak himself instead of the wind.
It's obvious Xi is the sun and the PLA Navy the wind. They're not going to do anything but serve warnings, but if Lai ignores warnings Taiwan knows what's coming.
Economic incentives will win over war.
quercetum
So when is the war starting? I told you two years ago there is no war and there won't be any wars. The war's front line is at the BRICS summit not the Taiwan Straights. They have you looking in the wrong places.
quercetum
In the event of war, even if the US came to the rescue and were capable of intercepting the Chinese missiles - this is a question for our resident naval warfare expert - how many interceptors would the US fleet have and how long would that last? They would simply run out of interceptor in time.
China is able to produce 1000 missiles a day it is said. I seriously doubt it is that low. You would have to anticipate that to be higher.
So then how about underwater? China has quite a number (use Western intelligence to form your opinion) of underwater drones. How about the USS Connecticut that hit an underwater mountain due to human error?
Americans are to believe the US Navy is so incompetent that its submarine would hit a seamount and become incapacitated. They are also averse to believing any country could cripple a Seawolf-class nuclear powered fast attack submarine and send it back home to San Diego. Pick your poison.
Peter14
Which will never happen.
Which will never happen. Twelve miles from each side and all water in between is international waters for free travel.
Agreed, and that 11 dash mostly 9 dash line has exactly zero existence in reality. If I made such a personal claim with dashes on a map it would hold precisely identical weight as China's claim. China better hope I dont press my claim.
TaiwanIsNotChina
No free country has ever just handed itself over to an invader. Tell us how China is going to get the 6x growth to look so appealing that Taiwan will just empty itself into boats. A blockade will be an act of war just as if a shot were fired by Peking first. Also your sun is pretty disgusting so I guess it is good no one can look at it.
I know and I guess you will be right until you are wrong. Good for the rest of us for Taiwan to remain independent and ww3 averted.
You just told us there would be no war and expected that to sound like common sense. You really need to make up your mind.
Are you going to tell you are not going to destroy Taiwan with said missiles? Are you under the impression the US can't fire back with air power so the ships can remain out of harms way? Are you under the impression China won't need any boats in the water?
Yes, and russia claims to be on a complete war footing economically. I hear they gained a new village this month.
Good for you. Hope they don't sink like the sub this spring. I suspect the drones don't have much larger range than missiles.
Are you under the impression the sea floor will win the war for you?
Well we are not going to believe the musings of those in the employ of the CCP.
No evidence to assume Peking did anything original ever.
quercetum
During WWII, the US participated in the write-up of the 1943 Cairo Declaration and 1945 Potsdam Proclamation. In 1947, US warships accompanied Chinese warships to reclaim the South China Seas island and reefs that were colonized by Japan during the war. The 11 dash line, and later 9 dash line as China worked things out with Vietnam, was recognized.
I "press" your claim.
At the very least you would have to admit this is not the imagination or some random drawing by ROC Taiwan. This is the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. The PRC did not participate in this. The PRC only claims this through Taiwan, that it claims as its province.
Are you arguing that the UNCLOS repeals the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation? That is not an argument. We merely look it up or use common sense: it does not.
For the commentators who say "China signed the UNCLOS" please explain how the UNCLOS is an undoing of the Cairo and Potsdam? It does not and the two declaration and proclamations are not repealed.
quercetum
Are you under the impression the seamount crippled the USS Connecticut? That's a good one.
quercetum
Yes, definitely I am right here. They will continue to give warnings. The live-fire exercises are to make sure the Republic of China does not get any wrong ideas and to make sure there will not be war.
quercetum
You've been fooled. That part of the Yangtze River is only 5-6 meters deep and there are sandbars. It's not a place for nuclear subs.
TaiwanIsNotChina
That doesn't say anything about whether the US or China allowed piracy to operate out of the ROC islands.
And since the PRC is allegedly an independent country, it is behaving appallingly by engaging in piracy and hiding behind the ROC as an excuse.
I imagine the UNCLOS doesn't say anything about who owns whatever minicule amount of the rocks is above water. It merely states that these remain international waters and China can't do anything to ships any distance from its rocks.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Even if we take your fanfiction at face value, the US now has a boat load of survivors and equipment with which to devise countermeasures.
quercetum
The 11 /9 dash line is a US doing not China's. There wasn't even a Philippines sovereign nation but a US colony at the time and Vietnam was only a colony of France in the 1940's, the backdrop of all this.
After the war US warships accompanied Chinese warships to reclaim the South China Seas island and reefs that were colonized by Japan during the war. The Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation are key.
These documents are proofs that the US and France agreed to the 9 dash line. At most the US could argue is that it sides with the Republic of China - Taiwan and the 11 dash line belongs to the ROC.
As for UNCLOS, no one has come up to argue the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation have been repealed by UNCLOS. It's nonsense. Setting forth the framework for the use and protection of the sea is not an attempt to define territory or disputed territory.
If the US wishes to modify historical documents, the US must officially and openly announce it to the world and China. It cannot unilaterally change historical records - Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation - not in an international rules based order.