US military aircraft flies over sensitive Taiwan Strait

TAIPEI, November 26 — A US military patrol plane flew over politically sensitive waters separating China and Taiwan on Tuesday, as the United States seeks to reinforce the airspace as international.

The United States and its allies regularly cross through the 180-kilometre (112-mile) Taiwan Strait, either by ship or aircraft, angering Beijing. China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory and claims jurisdiction over the body of water separating the two.

To assert its claims, Beijing regularly deploys fighter jets and warships around the island, while opposing transits by military ships and aircraft belonging to the United States and its allies.

"A US Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on Nov. 26, 2024 (local time)," the US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement. "The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."

During a previous transit by a US P-8A Poseidon in September, the Chinese military tailed the aircraft. The United States is Taiwan's most important security partner, but like most other countries it does not have official diplomatic relations with Taipei.