China’s aircraft carrier sails by Taiwan as tensions rise

TAIPEI: Taiwan said it had scrambled jets and sent ships to track the passage of a Chinese aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing’s leader gave the island a fierce warning against separatism.

The Liaoning and accompanying vessels entered Taiwan’s air defence zone on Tuesday, the same day Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a blistering nationalistic speech – warning against what he called any attempts to split China.