Taiwan Heightens Alert as Two Chinese Warships Spotted Near Penghu Islands
Chinese Naval Activity Near Taiwan and Regional Response
Initial Sighting and Military Response
TAIPEI, April 28 (Reuters) - Taiwan has spotted two Chinese warships operating in waters near the Penghu islands in the Taiwan Strait and has sent its own naval and air forces to keep watch, the defence ministry in Taipei said.
Background: Ongoing Tensions in the Taiwan Strait
China's Military Presence
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, sends its warships and warplanes into the waters and skies around the island on an almost daily basis, to the condemnation of the Taiwanese government.
Taiwan's Monitoring and Reporting Practices
While Taiwan's defence ministry offers daily updates of the locations of Chinese military aircraft, it only rarely gives details of where Chinese warships are operating, generally only when it detects aircraft carriers, as happened last week.
Details of the Latest Incident
Location and Nature of Chinese Warships
Late Monday, the ministry said a Chinese destroyer and a frigate had entered waters to the southwest of the Penghu islands, home to major Taiwanese navy and air bases and close to the Taiwan side of the strait.
Taiwan's Response and Surveillance
Taiwan's military "closely monitored the formation and responded appropriately using naval and air forces", the ministry added, without elaborating.
The ministry showed colour pictures of both ships taken from the air, but did not give an exact location.
Reactions from China and Taiwan
China's Position
China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, it said China's regular military activities around Taiwan are "entirely justified and reasonable" and any tensions are the fault of the government in Taipei.
Taiwan's Stance on Sovereignty
Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
