US Navy plane flies Taiwan Strait as China tracks the aircraft
A US Navy patrol aircraft made its way through Taiwan Strait while Chinese forces tracked its movement. The flight happened in international airspace as part of US Indo-Pacific operations
On Nov 26th a high-stakes aerial encounter unfolded in the Taiwan Strait as Peoples Liberation Army forces monitored a US aircraft passage through the region
The US Navyʼs maritime-patrol plane (a P-8A Poseidon) made its way across the well-known water passage; Chinese military assets tracked its movement from start-to-finish. The US 7th Fleet pointed out that the flight took place in whats considered international airspace - meaning it didnt break any rules
The US military stated this kind of operation shows their dedication to keeping Indo-Pacific waters open for everyone: several nations use these routes for both commercial and military purposes. Chinese authorities however see such flights as un-needed actions in what they consider their territory
The P-8A Poseidonʼs flight - which is a state-of-the-art surveillance aircraft - represents another chapter in the back-and-forth between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan-related matters. Both sides keep a close eye on each others movements in this geo-politically important region
