Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft
This April 17, it was learned that Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft in the Taiwan Strait.
China’s military said Wednesday that it sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a U.S. Navy patrol plane that flew over the sensitive Taiwan Strait, a mission that came just hours after a call between Chinese and U.S. defenses.
Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft in an area that is of high complexity given China’s dispute with Taiwan.
China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan and says it has jurisdiction over the strait.
Taiwan and the United States dispute it, saying the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway.
Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft despite the latter’s claim that it was in international waters.
Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft
In this regard, Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft, reportedly a Poseidon model.
The U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet confirmed that the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, which is also used for anti-submarine missions, flew over the strait in international airspace.
“By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” it said in a statement accessed by Reuters. “The aircraft’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
READ MORE: U.S. AIR FORCE WILL REMAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
The Chinese military described the flight as “public overkill” and added that it had sent fighter jets to monitor and warn the U.S. plane and “deal with it in accordance with law and regulations.”
“Troops in the theater are always on high alert and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability,” the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army said in a statement.
Chinese aircraft reportedly intercepted a U.S. aircraft amid a complaint from the Chinese that the maneuver was improper.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said the U.S. aircraft flew south across the strait and that Taiwanese forces had monitored the situation, but observed nothing unusual.
The last time the U.S. Navy announced that a Poseidon had flown over the strait, in December, the Chinese military said it had also sent fighter jets to monitor and warn the aircraft.
The new Poseidon flight came shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, the first conversation the two have had in more than a year as the two countries seek to restore military ties.
Dong told Austin that the Taiwan issue is “at the core of China’s fundamental interests and China’s fundamental interests should not be harmed at all.”
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army will never allow any Taiwan independence separatist activity or outside collusion and support to go unchecked,” Dong was quoted as saying.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international ally and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, and this issue creates tensions in Sino-U.S. relations.
Although Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft, the incident is not reported to have escalated for the time being.
