Taiwan monitors Chinese aircraft carrier ahead of reported drills

Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Taiwan's military said Wednesday it was closely monitoring the movements of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) near the island, after the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (遼寧號) was spotted in waters off Taiwan amid reports of potential upcoming military drills.

Colonel Hu Chung-hua (胡中華), an intelligence officer at the Ministry of National Defense's Office of Deputy Chief of General Staff for Intelligence, said Wednesday the Liaoning was in waters off Taiwan's southeast coast but did not reveal how close the aircraft carrier was.

He said Taiwan's armed forces are closely monitoring the situation with joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, and have deployed forces in response -- regardless of whether the PLA plans to launch new military drills.

Colonel Su Tung-wei (蘇統偉), deputy head of the Ministry of National Defense's General Staff Operations and Planning Department, said the military will respond based on the level of threat posed by the PLA.

Su added that the military will also decide whether to adjust its preparedness level to safeguard national security.

The two senior officials made the remarks at a regular MND news briefing on Wednesday, in response to a question about reports that the PLA could soon launch military exercises near Taiwan, with the Liaoning now approaching the country.

Multiple local news outlets reported Tuesday that the Liaoning was heading to the western Pacific east of Taiwan and could conduct military exercises there later this week during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday from Friday to Sunday.

Also Wednesday, the MND said 41 PLA aircraft and vessels were detected around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Among them, 22 Chinese naval vessels were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait during this period.

On Sunday, Japan's Defense Ministry announced that the Liaoning was spotted sailing in the East China Sea near the Senkaku Islands, conducting fighter jet takeoff and landing drills from the carrier.

According to the ministry, this is the first time Japan has detected takeoffs and landings of fighter jets from a Chinese aircraft carrier sailing in the East China Sea.

Controlled by Japan, the Senkaku Islands -- known in Taiwan as the Diaoyutai Islands -- are located in the disputed East China Sea and are also claimed by both Taiwan and China.