China's aircraft carrier battle group leaves Taiwan's ADIZ

Central News Agency

2017/07/02 22:45:27

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) China's naval formation headed by the Liaoning aircraft carrier that entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) at about 4:00 p.m. Saturday, has left the zone after sailing southwest along the Taiwan Strait, the Ministry of National Defense said Sunday.

The battle group, which was sailing west of the strait's mid-line, left Taiwan's ADIZ at 9:30 p.m., said the ministry, which earlier had anticipated that it would leave the ADIZ at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

It noted that Taiwan's aircraft and ships were monitoring the formation's movement.

According to Liang Yang (梁陽), a spokesman for the People's Liberation Army Navy, the formation, comprising the Liaoning, the destroyers Ji'nan and Yinchuan, the frigate Yantai and a squadron of J-15 fighter jets and helicopters, will head to Hong Kong in early July to attend celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover.

(By Hu Hsin-hui, Elizabeth Hsu and S.C. Chang)
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