A Chinese aircraft carrier and seven other Navy ships, including several destroyers, passed between islands in Japan’s southern Okinawa chain in a show of strength on Monday, according to a Japanese defence ministry statement.

The ships sailed between the main Okinawa island and Miyakojima, the statement said.

Although there was no incursion into Japan's territorial waters, helicopters on board the Liaoning aircraft carrier took off and landed.

This was the first time that a Chinese aircraft carrier was confirmed to have passed through the area since December last year, according to Japanese national broadcaster NHK.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said it would monitor the movements of the carrier group, and described the situation as "normal" as of now.