The Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the Chinese People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) Shandong aircraft carrier was detected sailing along the Taiwan Strait median line beginning Wednesday afternoon. As of 8 a.m. Thursday, the carrier group was sailing from south to north along the west side of the median line into northern waters.
The ministry says it uses joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance methods to closely monitor sea and airspace, and has dispatched appropriate units to monitor and respond.
On Monday, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff announced that the PLA’s Shandong conducted a nine-day training exercise between October 28 to November 5. During this period, the carrier's fighter aircraft conducted around 420 takeoffs and landings, and helicopters conducted around 150 takeoffs and landings, totaling 570 flight operations.