China has sent its aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, through the Taiwan Strait, in a move that has drawn close monitoring from Taiwan’s military and renewed attention to tensions in the region.

According to Reuters, Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed on Monday that the carrier passed through the sensitive waterway, with armed forces maintaining constant surveillance throughout its transit. The ministry did not provide further operational details but indicated that the situation remained under control.

The Taiwan Strait is a strategically important passage separating Taiwan from mainland China. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, a claim strongly rejected by Taipei, which operates as a self-governing democracy. This dispute continues to fuel frequent military activity around the island.

This latest movement marks the first time since late last year that a Chinese aircraft carrier has been reported transiting the strait. Previously, Taiwan had reported the passage of the Fujian, China’s most advanced carrier, in December, as reported by Reuters.

China has in recent months increased military drills and patrols near Taiwan, which Taipei views as part of a sustained pressure campaign aimed at asserting Beijing’s sovereignty claims, Reuters reported. The Liaoning, China’s oldest operational aircraft carrier, has also been involved in exercises near Japan’s southwestern islands earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Taiwan Strait continues to draw international attention. The United States Navy regularly sails warships through the strait, asserting that it remains international waters, a position supported by Washington but opposed by Beijing.

China recently criticised the transit of a Japanese warship through the same waters, describing it as a “deliberate provocation,” according to Reuters.

The latest development highlights the ongoing strategic rivalry in the region, with military movements by major powers continuing to raise concerns over stability and security in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.