Taiwan detects two Russian ships near its territorial waters

Beijing, June 28 (EFE).- Taiwan’s Defense Ministry detected two Russian Navy ships sailing near its territorial waters, something unusual in the Strait of Formosa and its surroundings, state media reported Wednesday.

The military reported Tuesday night it registered the passage of two Russian corvettes heading north in waters near the east of Taiwan and that they later moved away in a southwesterly direction, state news agency CNA said.

Authorities monitored the passage of the ships using intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance techniques, as well as sending planes and ships to track the movements of the vessels.

The Ministry did not specify details about how close the Russian ships were to the coast of Taiwan or their specific identification.

Unlike China’s and the United States’ navies, it is rare for Russian military vessels to sail in waters near Taiwan or through the Strait of Formosa.

China’s army has markedly increased its presence in the area since August, when then-US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, angering China.

In response, Beijing deployed military maneuvers of unprecedented intensity around the island for several days, repeating them this year after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met in Los Angeles, United States, with Pelosi’s successor Kevin McCarthy.

Taipei said last week that eight Chinese combat aircraft approached the so-called “contiguous area” of Taiwan – 24 nautical miles from its coasts – the first time that such a close approach by Chinese aircraft to Taiwanese territory has been confirmed.

China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, a territory it considers a “rebel province” since Kuomintang nationalists withdrew there in 1949 after losing the war against the communist army. EFE

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