Tensions between the United States and China escalated this week as Beijing condemned a US naval surveillance flight across the Taiwan Strait, accusing Washington of causing regional instability. The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet confirmed that a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft made a transit of the strait on Tuesday, flying in what the Pentagon described as international airspace.
China responded quickly, deploying military aircraft and naval forces to follow the American flight. A statement from the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) criticized the transit as a “provocative” act, saying it undermined regional peace and stability. “The troops of the PLA Eastern Theater Command will remain on high alert at all times and resolutely protect China’s national sovereignty and regional peace and stability,” said PLA spokesperson senior captain Li Xi.
The U.S. Navy defended the mission, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining navigation rights and freedoms in the Indo-Pacific. “By operating in the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States defends the navigation rights and freedoms of all nations,” the 7th Fleet said in a statement. “The aircraft’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. »
The flight came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Defense Minister Dong Jun. The Pentagon said the conversation focused on the U.S.-China defense relationship as well as broader regional security concerns. Austin reiterated the United States’ position that it “will continue to fly, sail and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law permits.” »
China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, views US military activity in the region as an attack on its territorial integrity. Col. Cao Jun, an Air Force spokesman for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, called the U.S. flight “public hype,” accusing Washington of distorting international legal principles to mislead global perceptions.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the P-8A Poseidon flew from north to south of the strait and noted that Taiwanese forces were monitoring the situation. “The situation was normal,” the ministry said. This marks the latest in a series of U.S. military transits across the Taiwan Strait, which take place about once a month. Such operations constantly attract strong criticism from Beijing.
Chinese military responses to US missions in the region have intensified in recent months. Last month, Beijing carried out a large-scale military exercise involving a record 153 aircraft, 14 warships and 12 Chinese government ships near Taiwan in response to what it perceived as provocations. On Monday, Taiwan reported spotting a Chinese surveillance balloon over waters north of the island.
The Biden administration has worked to restore military communication between the United States and China, a critical channel for avoiding misunderstandings in volatile situations. Following a meeting in California in November 2023, President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to resume direct communication between theater commanders, a step welcomed by defense analysts. Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of these measures during his recent meeting with Dong Jun, describing open lines of communication as vital to maintaining stability.
The Taiwan Strait, a 110-mile-wide waterway separating Taiwan from mainland China, remains a point of tension in U.S.-China relations. While the United States and Taiwan consider the strait to be international waters, China asserts its control over the area. Washington has consistently rejected Beijing’s claims, citing international law to justify its presence in the region.
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