Overview
- Taiwan’s defense ministry said the Fujian crossed the Taiwan Strait on Dec. 16 and released an aerial photo that showed an empty flight deck.
- Defense Minister Wellington Koo told lawmakers the ship was probably heading to Shanghai’s Changxing Island for maintenance and that no military activity was observed during the passage.
- China’s defense ministry had not publicly commented on the transit as of Thursday.
- Taiwan reported a spike in nearby PLA operations over the 24 hours after the crossing, including 40 aircraft sorties with more than half crossing the median line and eight naval vessels.
- The Fujian, commissioned on Nov. 5 as China’s first carrier with electromagnetic catapults, was filmed leaving Yulin Naval Base before the transit, as other Chinese carriers returned to port following recent deployments.