Fujian aircraft carrier Photo:CFP

On September 12, it was officially confirmed that China’s first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, transited the Taiwan Straits. According to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy spokesperson Senior Captain Leng Guowei, the country’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, recently passed through the Taiwan Straits en route to the South China Sea to carry out scientific research tests and training missions.

9月12日，官方证实中国首艘弹射航母福建舰通过台湾海峡。据海军新闻发言人冷国伟海军大校介绍，日前，我国第3艘航空母舰福建舰通过台湾海峡，赴南海相关海域开展科研试验和训练任务。 

At the same day’s regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, in response to a foreign journalist’s question on the matter, said that the Chinese Navy had released relevant information: China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, recently passed through the Taiwan Straits to carry out scientific research tests and training missions in the South China Sea.

This cross-regional test and training mission is a routine arrangement in the carrier’s development process and is not directed at any specific target. “I want to point out that the activities of Chinese naval vessels in the relevant waters are fully consistent with China's domestic law and international law,” Lin said.

在同天举行的中国外交部例行记者会上，外交部发言人林剑在回应外媒记者“外交部对此有何评论”的提问时表示，中国海军日前发布了相关的信息，我国第3艘航空母舰福建舰通过台湾海峡，赴南海相关海域开展科研试验和训练任务。这次的跨区试验训练，是航母建造过程中的正常安排，不针对任何的特定目标。 “我要指出的是，中国军舰在有关海域的活动完全符合中国的国内法和国际法。”林剑表示。