TAIPEI, Reuters – China’s aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through Taiwan Strait, just hours ahead of talks between the U.S. and Chinese presidents.

China claims Taiwan to be democratically controlled by it and has intensified its military activity around the island in recent years to prove its sovereignty claims. Washington and Taipei are alarmed.

According to a source who wasn’t authorized to talk to media, the Shandong sailed near the Taiwan-controlled island Kinmen. This is directly across from the Chinese city of Xiamen and was shadowed at the U.S. naval warship.

The source claimed that the CV-17 was seen around 10:30 AM, 30 miles southwest of Kinmen. It was captured by a civilian passenger.

Sources said that the USS Ralph Johnson was an Arleigh Burke-guided missile destroyer and shadowed it. It then sailed through the Strait to the north.

According to a source, Taiwan sent warships in order to monitor the situation.

The Taiwan Defense Ministry did not respond to our request for comment.

China’s Defence Ministry was not available for comment.

It took place 12 hours prior to the U.S. President Joe Biden’s scheduled meeting with Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart.

Source described Shandong’s timing so close to the call as “provocative”.

China believes Taiwan is its most important and sensitive issue when it comes to relations with the United States. Washington doesn’t have formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. However, it is Taiwan’s largest international backer as well as arms supplier.

China’s new aircraft carrier, the Shandong was launched in 2019

The Liaoning is China’s other carrier and it is mostly used to train.