A U.S. surveillance aircraft flew through the Taiwan Strait on Sept. 17 as part of what the 7th Fleet said to be protected freedom of navigation exercises, drawing Beijing’s ire.
The P-8A Poseidon, outfitted with radars and sensors, “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace” on Sept. 17, the 7th Fleet said in a Tuesday statement. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.”
The 100-mile-wide waterway separates communist China from democratic-governed Taiwan. Despite being recognized as international waters, the Chinese regime asserts that it falls under its jurisdiction and views any passage by foreign powers as a challenge to its sovereignty.
“The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” stated the Fleet.
The Chinese military sent fighter jets to follow the U.S. patrol aircraft, according to a statement by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday.
“Theater troops are on high alert at all times,” said Adm. Li Xi, spokesperson for PLA’s Eastern Theater Command in their statement while vowing to “resolutely defend national sovereignty and security.”
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has never ruled Taiwan, considers it as a renegade province and has never ruled out using military force to control it.
In an effort to wear down Taiwan’s defenses and intimidate its government which pledged to defend its democracy, CCP routinely deploys warplanes and ships in strait areas close to Taiwan.
On Tuesday alone eight Chinese military aircrafts were detected along with seven navy vessels and two coastguard ships surrounding Taiwan according Ministry of National Defense in Taipei.
Tensions across this major trade corridor have sparked concerns among world’s major economies since almost half of world’s container fleet passes through here every year.
