Destroyer and frigate appeared to be on long-distance training mission and sailed towards South China Sea on Friday, island’s defence ministry says

Date: 23 June, 2018
By: Lawrence Chung

Taiwan has scrambled jets and navy ships as two mainland warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, in the latest sign of heightened tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled island.

The PLA Navy warships – a Type 052C destroyer and a Type 054A frigate – sailed southward off the island’s east coast early on Friday, Taiwan’s defence ministry said.

“They were moving in open sea close to Taiwan’s territorial waters before passing through the Bashi Channel, south of Taiwan,” the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

It said the mainland vessels, which were sailing southwest to the South China Sea, appeared to be on a long-distance training mission.

“We immediately scrambled jets and navy ships to monitor the movement of the vessels in line with our regulations,” the ministry said.    [FULL  STORY]