Taipei Times
Date: Jan 12, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Lawmakers across party lines yesterday said the entry of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning into the nation’s air defense identification zone was a warning from Beijing to Taiwan.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), who co-chairs the legislature’s Foreign and National Defense Committee, said it was a warning sent by Beijing to intimidate Taiwan, and undermines peace and stability in the region.

However, it was more of a “diplomatic intimidation” than an actual military threat, he said, adding that the Ministry of National Defense has stayed on top of the situation.

The incident came amid a visit by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to four of the nation’s Central American allies in an effort to consolidate bilateral ties, after the west African island nation of Sao Tome and Principe severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan on Dec. 20 and later established official ties with China.    [FULL  STORY]