US Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol plane of the US passed over the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, with the flight taking place in international airspace, the US Seventh Fleet said. According to the statement, the mission is proof of the US commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, reported "Reuters", quoted by News.bg
Tensions between the US and China
These routine missions, conducted about once a month, often provoke a negative reaction from China. Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait. However, Taiwan and the US dispute these claims, stressing that the strait is an international waterway.
The US Seventh Fleet statement said the flight was in compliance with international law, underscoring Washington's support for the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations. So far, the Chinese Ministry of Defense has not commented on the transition.
Escalation of tension
This is not the first such incident in the region. In April, China sent fighter jets to monitor and warn another US Poseidon aircraft that was flying over the Taiwan Strait. The incident happened hours after a conversation between the US and Chinese defense ministers.
These events and the ongoing missions underscore the growing tension between the world's two leading powers. Taiwan remains a central issue in relations between Beijing and Washington, with the future of the region among the major geopolitical challenges of our time.