NO OFFICIAL COMMENT: Reuters said the Pentagon declined to discuss potential operations, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the news had yet to be verified
Taipei Times
Date: Jun 06, 2018
By: Staff writer, with Reuters
The US is mulling the possibility of sending an aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait
This US Navy handout photo released May 16 shows an MH-60S Sea Hawk attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 as it flies next to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)in the Atlantic Ocean on May 15. Photo: Reuters
as a show of support to Taiwan, a report by Reuters said yesterday, citing US officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to the report, the US had explored plans for an aircraft carrier passage earlier this year, but did not pursue them, perhaps due to concerns about upsetting China.
The last time a US aircraft carrier transited the Taiwan Strait was in 2007, when George W. Bush was president.
According to Reuters, the Pentagon has declined to comment on any potential future operations, so it was not clear how soon such a passage might take place. [FULL STORY]
