A Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, Taiwan's defence minister said, a day after Beijing held a live-fire exercise near the self-ruled island.

China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and has ramped up military activity around the island in recent years to pressure Taipei into accepting its claims of sovereignty.&nbsp;

"The Liaoning is passing through the Taiwan Strait now, sailing north along the west of the median line (of the passage) and we are closely monitoring it," Defence Minister Wellington Koo told reporters.

The Liaoning, China's oldest aircraft carrier, took part in Beijing's large-scale military drills around Taiwan last week, which were condemned by Taipei and its key backer Washington.

A blockade was among the exercises carried out.&nbsp;

Koo warned on Wednesday that an actual blockade of Taiwan would be an "act of war" and have a "very serious impact on the global economy".

China has two aircraft carriers in active service, and a third undergoing sea trials. The Liaoning has previously passed through the strait.

China's foreign ministry said Wednesday it was "perfectly normal for Chinese aircraft carriers to sail in its own territory and territorial waters".

The Liaoning appeared to be returning to Qingdao port in eastern China via the Pratas Islands, in the northern part of the South China Sea, for "replenishing and necessary maintenance", said Jiang Hsin-biao, a military expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

Its involvement in the recent military drills was for "the purpose of practising against foreign forces and intimidating Taiwan", Jiang told AFP.

<h2>- Stronger language -</h2>

Beijing sent a record number of military aircraft -- including fighter jets and drones -- as well as warships to encircle Taiwan on October 14 in what Beijing said was a "stern warning to the separatist acts of 'Taiwan Independence' forces".

It was in response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's National Day speech on October 10 in which he vowed to "resist annexation", and insisted that Beijing and Taipei were not subordinate to each other.

Lai, who took office in May, has used stronger language than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen in defending Taiwan's sovereignty, angering China's leaders in Beijing, who call him a "separatist".

Taipei said Tuesday that the live-fire drill could be part of Beijing's "tactics to bolster its intimidation in conjunction with the dynamics in the Taiwan Strait".

Over the weekend, a US and a Canadian warship passed through the 180-kilometre Taiwan Strait, part of regular passages by Washington and its allies meant to reinforce its status as an international waterway.

Beijing condemned the passage as disrupting "peace and stability" in the strait.

Taiwan's defence ministry said Wednesday it had detected 15 Chinese military aircraft and six navy vessels in the skies and waters around the island in the 24 hours to 6:00 am Wednesday (2200 GMT Tuesday).

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949 after Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces fled to the island following their defeat by Mao Zedong's communist fighters.

While Taiwan has its own government, military, and currency, Beijing insists the island is part of its territory and has refused to rule out the use of force to bring it under its control.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, Taiwan's defence minister said, a day after Beijing held a live-fire exercise near the self-ruled island.

A Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, Taiwan's defence minister said, a day after Beijing held a live-fire exercise near the self-ruled island. China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and has ramped up military activity around the island in recent years to pressure Taipei into accepting its claims of sovereignty. "The Liaoning is passing through the Taiwan Strait now, sailing north along the west of the median line (of the passage) and we are closely monitoring it," Defence Minister Wellington Koo told reporters. The Liaoning, China's oldest aircraft carrier, took part in Beijing's large-scale military drills around Taiwan last week, which were condemned by Taipei and its key backer Washington. A blockade was among the exercises carried out. Koo warned on Wednesday that an actual blockade of Taiwan would be an "act of war" and have a "very serious impact on the global economy". China has two aircraft carriers in active service, and a third undergoing sea trials. The Liaoning has previously passed through the strait. China's foreign ministry said Wednesday it was "perfectly normal for Chinese aircraft carriers to sail in its own territory and territorial waters". The Liaoning appeared to be returning to Qingdao port in eastern China via the Pratas Islands, in the northern part of the South China Sea, for "replenishing and necessary maintenance", said Jiang Hsin-biao, a military expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research. Its involvement in the recent military drills was for "the purpose of practising against foreign forces and intimidating Taiwan", Jiang told AFP. - Stronger language - Beijing sent a record number of military aircraft -- including fighter jets and drones -- as well as warships to encircle Taiwan on October 14 in what Beijing said was a "stern warning to the separatist acts of 'Taiwan Independence' forces". It was in response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's National Day speech on October 10 in which he vowed to "resist annexation", and insisted that Beijing and Taipei were not subordinate to each other. Lai, who took office in May, has used stronger language than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen in defending Taiwan's sovereignty, angering China's leaders in Beijing, who call him a "separatist". Taipei said Tuesday that the live-fire drill could be part of Beijing's "tactics to bolster its intimidation in conjunction with the dynamics in the Taiwan Strait". Over the weekend, a US and a Canadian warship passed through the 180-kilometre Taiwan Strait, part of regular passages by Washington and its allies meant to reinforce its status as an international waterway. Beijing condemned the passage as disrupting "peace and stability" in the strait. Taiwan's defence ministry said Wednesday it had detected 15 Chinese military aircraft and six navy vessels in the skies and waters around the island in the 24 hours to 6:00 am Wednesday (2200 GMT Tuesday). China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949 after Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces fled to the island following their defeat by Mao Zedong's communist fighters. While Taiwan has its own government, military, and currency, Beijing insists the island is part of its territory and has refused to rule out the use of force to bring it under its control. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Taipei reports Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through Taiwan Strait

The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Organization and ignited a diplomatic row between China and some Western powers.

Led by the United States, a growing number of countries are calling for Taiwan to either be allowed into the WHO, or be given observer status.

The spat is likely to worsen at next week's World Health Assembly -- the WHO's annual policy making meeting -- which is gathering virtually because of the virus outbreak.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-indias-support-for-taiwans-who-membership-can-rattle-china-298744">Also read:&nbsp;How India's support for Taiwan's WHO membership can rattle China</a>

Why is Taiwan shut out?

Taiwan -- officially the Republic of China -- was a founding member of the WHO when the global health body was created in 1948. But it was expelled in 1972 a year after losing the "China" seat at the United Nations to the People's Republic of China.

The two sides have been ruled separately since 1949 after the Nationalists lost a civil war to the Communists and fled to Taiwan to set up a rival government. Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.

It balks at any international recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign nation and in recent years has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on the island.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwans-tsmc-plans-to-build-chip-plant-in-arizona-amid-us-china-rivalry-298838">Also read:&nbsp;Taiwan's TSMC plans to build chip plant in Arizona amid US-China rivalry</a>

Keeping it shut out of international bodies like the WHO is part of that campaign.

Was it always this way? No. Between 2009 and 2016 Beijing allowed Taiwan to attend the WHA as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei".

At the time, relations between Taipei and Beijing were warmer. Things turned frosty with the election of current president Tsai Ing-wen in 2016. She hails from a party that views Taiwan as a de facto independent nation and doesn't subscribe to Beijing's idea that it belongs to a "one China".

Taipei found little diplomatic support for its calls to be included but the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically changed that. China has found itself scrutinised for its initial response to the outbreak and allegations its authoritarian government made the global spread worse.

In contrast, democratic Taiwan has been praised as a model for how to handle the outbreak -- with only seven deaths and 433 infections.

Why does Taiwan's exclusion matter?

Taiwan and its supporters argue it is unfair to exclude 23 million Taiwanese from the world's health body, especially during such a huge health crisis. They also say global leaders and doctors could learn from the island's expertise in combating the virus.

"No one should be treated as an orphan in the health network that the WHA should look after," Taiwan Vice President Chen Chien-jen, a US-trained epidemiologist, told reporters on Thursday.

"The WHO attaches too much importance to politics and forgets about its professionalism and neutrality," he added.

Taiwan's exclusion has also raised questions about Beijing's influence over the WHO.

This week the Trump administration accused the WHO of opting to "choose politics over public health" by being overly deferential to China.

What does the WHO say?

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said Taiwan's participation can only be decided by member states with the consent of "the relevant government" -- a reference to Beijing.

He rejects the notion that the body has been too deferential to Beijing under his tenure.

WHO officials say they are in regular contact with Taiwan and that Taiwanese officials are often included in technical meetings.

Taiwan has countered that it was previously invited to attend the WHA "at the discretion" of the then director general.

It says Tedros has a public health obligation to stand up to Beijing's blacklisting of the island.

The WHO later said an invite can be given by Tedros if a consensus existed between member states, which it does not.

Will Taiwan have its way? It's highly unlikely.

Only 15 nations still recognise Taiwan over China, most of them economic minnows in Latin America and the Pacific.

Few of the 194 countries within the WHO will want to stoke Beijing's anger -- a 2007 bid by Taiwan to seek membership was comprehensively defeated.

But any recognition of Taiwan's de facto sovereign nation status is seen as a win for Taipei and a blow for Beijing.

And it is here that Taiwan has seen significant success during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the last few weeks Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand have joined the US in publicly calling for Taiwan to be given observer status at the WHA.

That has infuriated Beijing. It has accused Western governments of using Taiwan as a wedge issue to distract from their own shortcomings in fighting the outbreak.

The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Organization and ignited a diplomatic row between China and some Western powers.

The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Organization and ignited a diplomatic row between China and some Western powers. Led by the United States, a growing number of countries are calling for Taiwan to either be allowed into the WHO, or be given observer status. The spat is likely to worsen at next week's World Health Assembly -- the WHO's annual policy making meeting -- which is gathering virtually because of the virus outbreak. Also read: How India's support for Taiwan's WHO membership can rattle China Why is Taiwan shut out? Taiwan -- officially the Republic of China -- was a founding member of the WHO when the global health body was created in 1948. But it was expelled in 1972 a year after losing the "China" seat at the United Nations to the People's Republic of China. The two sides have been ruled separately since 1949 after the Nationalists lost a civil war to the Communists and fled to Taiwan to set up a rival government. Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary. It balks at any international recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign nation and in recent years has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on the island. Also read: Taiwan's TSMC plans to build chip plant in Arizona amid US-China rivalry Keeping it shut out of international bodies like the WHO is part of that campaign. Was it always this way? No. Between 2009 and 2016 Beijing allowed Taiwan to attend the WHA as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei". At the time, relations between Taipei and Beijing were warmer. Things turned frosty with the election of current president Tsai Ing-wen in 2016. She hails from a party that views Taiwan as a de facto independent nation and doesn't subscribe to Beijing's idea that it belongs to a "one China". Taipei found little diplomatic support for its calls to be included but the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically changed that. China has found itself scrutinised for its initial response to the outbreak and allegations its authoritarian government made the global spread worse. In contrast, democratic Taiwan has been praised as a model for how to handle the outbreak -- with only seven deaths and 433 infections. Why does Taiwan's exclusion matter? Taiwan and its supporters argue it is unfair to exclude 23 million Taiwanese from the world's health body, especially during such a huge health crisis. They also say global leaders and doctors could learn from the island's expertise in combating the virus. "No one should be treated as an orphan in the health network that the WHA should look after," Taiwan Vice President Chen Chien-jen, a US-trained epidemiologist, told reporters on Thursday. "The WHO attaches too much importance to politics and forgets about its professionalism and neutrality," he added. Taiwan's exclusion has also raised questions about Beijing's influence over the WHO. This week the Trump administration accused the WHO of opting to "choose politics over public health" by being overly deferential to China. What does the WHO say? WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said Taiwan's participation can only be decided by member states with the consent of "the relevant government" -- a reference to Beijing. He rejects the notion that the body has been too deferential to Beijing under his tenure. WHO officials say they are in regular contact with Taiwan and that Taiwanese officials are often included in technical meetings. Taiwan has countered that it was previously invited to attend the WHA "at the discretion" of the then director general. It says Tedros has a public health obligation to stand up to Beijing's blacklisting of the island. The WHO later said an invite can be given by Tedros if a consensus existed between member states, which it does not. Will Taiwan have its way? It's highly unlikely. Only 15 nations still recognise Taiwan over China, most of them economic minnows in Latin America and the Pacific. Few of the 194 countries within the WHO will want to stoke Beijing's anger -- a 2007 bid by Taiwan to seek membership was comprehensively defeated. But any recognition of Taiwan's de facto sovereign nation status is seen as a win for Taipei and a blow for Beijing. And it is here that Taiwan has seen significant success during the coronavirus pandemic. In the last few weeks Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand have joined the US in publicly calling for Taiwan to be given observer status at the WHA. That has infuriated Beijing. It has accused Western governments of using Taiwan as a wedge issue to distract from their own shortcomings in fighting the outbreak.

Explainer: Why is Taiwan excluded from the WHO

President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hope-chinese-could-experience-blessing-of-democracy-taiwan-takes-dig-at-china-in-new-year-message-194937">Tsai Ing-wen</a> on Wednesday said no formal peace deal could be signed with China until leaders in Beijing rule out using force against the island.

Tsai was speaking a day after she confirmed she would run for re-election in early 2020 despite falling ratings and an increasingly strained relationship with China.

Beijing still sees democratic Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

Tsai was responding to recent comments by Wu Den-yih, head of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), that his party would pursue a peace treaty with Beijing if it were to regain power next year.

In pictures: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-taiwan-china-relations-since-1949-188037">Taiwan-China relations since 1949</a>

"There would be no so-called negotiation on equal footing and no real peace as China refuses to give up the use of force against Taiwan and forcefully pushes the 'one country, two systems' framework," she said in a media briefing.

"China's military intentions and its refusal to give up the use of force against Taiwan is a real source of regional instability and a threat to regional peace," she added.

"One country, two systems" is China's proposal to absorb Taiwan into the mainland but allow it to keep some of its freedoms.

Beijing has made its dislike of Tsai and her independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party clear.&nbsp;

After her election in 2016, it cut communication with her administration, stepped up military drills and poached several of Taiwan's dwindling diplomatic allies.

President Xi Jinping reiterated in a speech last month that China would not renounce the option of using military force to bring Taiwan into the fold, describing unification with the mainland as "inevitable".

A KMT win in 2020 would likely please leaders in Beijing given the much closer relationship it forged with the previous administration of Ma Ying-jeou.&nbsp;

Ma suggested in 2011 that Taiwan should consider a peace treaty with China within the coming decade, to formally bring an end to a civil war that has actually been over for seventy years.

The proposal sparked criticism from detractors that it would be tantamount to a unification or surrender treaty.&nbsp;

Ma later stressed that he would only move ahead for a peace agreement with the approval of both the parliament and the public, and the issue had been shelved since.

The KMT's drubbing at the 2016 election partly stemmed from voter unease over the party's perceived cosiness to the mainland.

But Wu -- a former vice president under Ma -- has resurrected the issue ahead of next year's polls. He is among the KMT bigwigs who have been tipped to run for president.

Tsai said she believed voters would balk at the proposal unless Beijing withdrew its threats.

"I believe Taiwanese society would not accept any political agreement that could harm or eliminate our sovereignty or eliminate Taiwan's democracy," she said. 
&nbsp;

President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday said no formal peace deal could be signed with China until leaders in Beijing rule out using force against the island. Tsai was speaking a day after she confirmed she would run for re-election in early 2020 despite falling ratings and an increasingly strained relationship with China.

President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday said no formal peace deal could be signed with China until leaders in Beijing rule out using force against the island. Tsai was speaking a day after she confirmed she would run for re-election in early 2020 despite falling ratings and an increasingly strained relationship with China. Beijing still sees democratic Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified, despite the two sides being ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949. Tsai was responding to recent comments by Wu Den-yih, head of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), that his party would pursue a peace treaty with Beijing if it were to regain power next year. In pictures: Taiwan-China relations since 1949 "There would be no so-called negotiation on equal footing and no real peace as China refuses to give up the use of force against Taiwan and forcefully pushes the 'one country, two systems' framework," she said in a media briefing. "China's military intentions and its refusal to give up the use of force against Taiwan is a real source of regional instability and a threat to regional peace," she added. "One country, two systems" is China's proposal to absorb Taiwan into the mainland but allow it to keep some of its freedoms. Beijing has made its dislike of Tsai and her independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party clear. After her election in 2016, it cut communication with her administration, stepped up military drills and poached several of Taiwan's dwindling diplomatic allies. President Xi Jinping reiterated in a speech last month that China would not renounce the option of using military force to bring Taiwan into the fold, describing unification with the mainland as "inevitable". A KMT win in 2020 would likely please leaders in Beijing given the much closer relationship it forged with the previous administration of Ma Ying-jeou. Ma suggested in 2011 that Taiwan should consider a peace treaty with China within the coming decade, to formally bring an end to a civil war that has actually been over for seventy years. The proposal sparked criticism from detractors that it would be tantamount to a unification or surrender treaty. Ma later stressed that he would only move ahead for a peace agreement with the approval of both the parliament and the public, and the issue had been shelved since. The KMT's drubbing at the 2016 election partly stemmed from voter unease over the party's perceived cosiness to the mainland. But Wu -- a former vice president under Ma -- has resurrected the issue ahead of next year's polls. He is among the KMT bigwigs who have been tipped to run for president. Tsai said she believed voters would balk at the proposal unless Beijing withdrew its threats. "I believe Taiwanese society would not accept any political agreement that could harm or eliminate our sovereignty or eliminate Taiwan's democracy," she said.

No peace talks unless China gives up force against Taiwan: President Tsai Ing-wen

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Taipei reports Chinese aircraft carrier group sailed through Taiwan Strait

Explainer: Why is Taiwan excluded from the WHO

No peace talks unless China gives up force against Taiwan: President Tsai Ing-wen