US warplane flight through Taiwan strait draws criticism from China
Date
2/28/2023 2:48:30 AM
(MENAFN) According to a report in China Daily, a Chinese army spokesman has criticized a recent flight by a United States warplane through the Taiwan Strait. The P-8A Poseidon, an anti-submarine patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, flew through the strait that separates mainland China and the self-governed island of Taiwan, while being monitored by a Chinese Su-27 fighter jet. The Chinese army spokesman, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, stated that the maneuver had “deliberately damaged the regional situation and jeopardized peace and stability” in the region. Shi also declared that the Chinese military was “on high alert to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The US forces in the region have acknowledged the maneuver, and the 7th Fleet Command issued a statement stating that the United States would continue to operate anywhere international law allows, including within the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense confirmed that they were aware of the P-8A’s flight, stating that the situation was “normal.” The incident is not the first time that the US has flown a P-8A through the Taiwan Strait. In June 2022, the United States sent a P-8A into the Taiwan Strait shortly after Beijing deployed 29 aircraft into Taiwan’s self-declared air defense identification zone (ADIZ). At the time, Shi similarly accused the US and Taiwan of “hyping” the maneuver up and testing China’s determination by sending American warships through the strait. In response, Taiwanese foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou argued that the waterway was part of international waters.
The flight of the US warplane through the Taiwan Strait has once again highlighted tensions between the US, China, and Taiwan. China considers Taiwan to be a part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against any moves that could be seen as challenging its sovereignty. Meanwhile, the United States has maintained that it is going to continue to operate in the region as it sees fit. The situation remains delicate, and any actions by either side could have significant implications for regional stability.
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