U.S. Navy Plane Monitored by Chinese Forces During Taiwan Strait Flight

China condemns the U.S. mission as provocative, while the U.S. asserts its commitment to international law and a free Indo-Pacific.

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft transited international airspace over the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet.
Chinese military forces, including warplanes and naval vessels, tracked the U.S. aircraft, describing the operation as a threat to regional peace and stability.
The U.S. Navy stated the flight was conducted in accordance with international law and emphasized its support for navigational rights and a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense reported increased Chinese military activity around the island, including the presence of five warplanes and seven naval vessels, with some entering Taiwanese airspace.
Tensions between the U.S. and China persist over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory and has vowed to unify with the mainland, potentially by force.