The defense ministry says it has no comment on suggestions from some in Washington that a US aircraft carrier visit Taiwan.
US Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Randy Forbes have both proposed that the USS John C. Stennis visit Taiwan. The suggestions come after China refused to allow a group headed by the aircraft carrier to make a port call in Hong Kong.
But Deputy Defense Minister Cheng De-mei told a legislative hearing Wednesday that these suggestions have only amounted to media reports so far. Cheng said that the defense ministry has not received any information about the suggestions the carrier visit Taiwan and cannot give any comment on them.
Meanwhile, Naval Chief of Staff Liu Chih-pin told the hearing that Taiwan does not have any military ports suitable for aircraft carriers to dock in. Liu said that Taiwan could provide emergency assistance if the US ships were to require it, and that the ships might be able to anchor off Taiwan’s coast.