<p>A Chinese carrier group is exercising near Taiwan and such drills will become regular, China's navy said late on Monday in a further escalation of tensions near the island that Beijing claims as its sovereign territory.</p>.<p>Taiwan has complained of an increase in Chinese military activity near it in recent months, as China steps up efforts to assert its sovereignty over the democratically run island.</p>.<p>China's navy said the carrier group, lead by the Liaoning, the country's first aircraft carrier put into active service, was carrying out "routine" drills in the waters near Taiwan.</p>.<p>The aim is to "enhance its capability to safeguard national sovereignty, safety and development interests", it said.</p>.<p>"Similar exercises will be conducted on a regular basis in the future," the navy added, without elaborating.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/taiwan-us-to-strengthen-maritime-coordination-after-china-law-966692.html" target="_blank">Taiwan, US to strengthen maritime coordination after China law</a></strong></p>.<p>China's statement follows Taiwan's Defence Ministry reporting a new incursion by China's air force into the island's air defence identification zone on Monday.</p>.<p>Taiwan's Defence Ministry said it had a "full grasp" of the situation in the air and at sea surrounding Taiwan and that it was "appropriately handling" the matter.</p>.<p>Japan's Defence Ministry said on Sunday that the Liaoning, accompanied by five escort ships, had transited the Miyako Strait on their way to the Pacific.</p>.<p>China's widely-read Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, noted the Nanchang, the first of a powerful new fleet of Type 055 destroyers that entered service last year, was part of the carrier group.</p>.<p>"The combination of aircraft carriers and Type 055 large destroyers will become a standard configuration of Chinese aircraft carrier task groups in the future," it added.</p>.<p>The Liaoning and its sister ship the Shandong have carried out drills or sailed near Taiwan before.</p>.<p>In December 2019, shortly before presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan the Shandong sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, a move condemned by Taiwan as attempted intimidation.</p>.<p>Taiwan is China's most sensitive territorial issue and a potential military flashpoint. China has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.</p>.<p>Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is overseeing a revamp of the island's military, rolling out new equipment such as "carrier killer" stealth corvettes.</p>
<p>A Chinese carrier group is exercising near Taiwan and such drills will become regular, China's navy said late on Monday in a further escalation of tensions near the island that Beijing claims as its sovereign territory.</p>.<p>Taiwan has complained of an increase in Chinese military activity near it in recent months, as China steps up efforts to assert its sovereignty over the democratically run island.</p>.<p>China's navy said the carrier group, lead by the Liaoning, the country's first aircraft carrier put into active service, was carrying out "routine" drills in the waters near Taiwan.</p>.<p>The aim is to "enhance its capability to safeguard national sovereignty, safety and development interests", it said.</p>.<p>"Similar exercises will be conducted on a regular basis in the future," the navy added, without elaborating.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/taiwan-us-to-strengthen-maritime-coordination-after-china-law-966692.html" target="_blank">Taiwan, US to strengthen maritime coordination after China law</a></strong></p>.<p>China's statement follows Taiwan's Defence Ministry reporting a new incursion by China's air force into the island's air defence identification zone on Monday.</p>.<p>Taiwan's Defence Ministry said it had a "full grasp" of the situation in the air and at sea surrounding Taiwan and that it was "appropriately handling" the matter.</p>.<p>Japan's Defence Ministry said on Sunday that the Liaoning, accompanied by five escort ships, had transited the Miyako Strait on their way to the Pacific.</p>.<p>China's widely-read Global Times, published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, noted the Nanchang, the first of a powerful new fleet of Type 055 destroyers that entered service last year, was part of the carrier group.</p>.<p>"The combination of aircraft carriers and Type 055 large destroyers will become a standard configuration of Chinese aircraft carrier task groups in the future," it added.</p>.<p>The Liaoning and its sister ship the Shandong have carried out drills or sailed near Taiwan before.</p>.<p>In December 2019, shortly before presidential and parliamentary elections in Taiwan the Shandong sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, a move condemned by Taiwan as attempted intimidation.</p>.<p>Taiwan is China's most sensitive territorial issue and a potential military flashpoint. China has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.</p>.<p>Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is overseeing a revamp of the island's military, rolling out new equipment such as "carrier killer" stealth corvettes.</p>