China says aircraft carrier group on way to South China Sea for drills

The Shandong is China's second carrier, and was formally commissioned almost exactly a year ago. - SHANDONG OFFICIAL/TWITTER

BEIJING (Reuters): An aircraft carrier group led by China's newest carrier, the Shandong, has sailed through the Taiwan Strait on its way to routine drills in the South China Sea, China's navy said on Monday (Dec 21), after Taiwan mobilised its forces to monitor the trip.

While it is not the first time China's carriers have passed close to Taiwan, it comes at a time of heightened tension between Taipei and Beijing, which claims the democratically ruled island as its territory.