TAIPEI: China’s sole operational aircraft carrier passed through the TaiwanStrait Wednesday, the island’s defence ministry said, as Beijing steps uppressure on its democratic rival.

It comes weeks after Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen warned against whatshe called China’s “military expansion” — the increase of air and navaldrills around the island since she came to power in May 2016.

Beijing views the self-ruling island as part of its territory, to bereunified at some point.

Cross-strait relations have become increasingly frosty as Tsai refuses toacknowledge Taiwan is part of “one China”.

The aircraft carrier — a second-hand Soviet ship — caused a stir inTaiwan when it first entered the strait in January last year, viewed as asymbolic show of strength by Beijing.

The defence ministry said the Liaoning carrier and accompanying vesselsentered Taiwan’s air defence zone early Wednesday morning and left by noon.

The fleet, which earlier this month had sailed south through the straitthat separates Taiwan and China, was seen again heading north, it said.

As in the past two crossings, the ship did not enter Taiwanese waters, theministry added.

“The military conducted surveillance and took responsive measures duringthe whole process,” the ministry said in a statement.

“There were no unusual activities during the time the fleet passed throughthe Taiwan Strait. We urge people not to worry,” it added.

Built nearly 30 years ago, the carrier was commissioned in 2012 afterextensive refits.

According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, Chinese warplanes conducted 25drills around Taiwan between August 2016 and mid-December last year.

The latest Liaoning appearance also comes after tensions were furtherfuelled by China starting new flight routes in the Taiwan Strait withoutconsulting Taiwan.

Taipei questioned the move as politically motivated and called it reckless,saying it threatened the island’s security and could compromise flightsafety. – Agencies