US military officials say a Naval aircraft’s flight through the Taiwan Strait last week was a show of the US’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Late last week, the US Navy sent a Boeing P-8A aircraft through the Taiwan Strait, a move that drew criticism from Chinese authorities.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out taking the island by force. Earlier this month, Chinese authorities said that the waters around Taiwan also belonged to China.
China says that it dispatched aircraft to intercept and monitor the US Navy aircraft as it entered the Taiwan Strait.
On Tuesday, the US Indo-Pacific Command released a statement saying the maneuver was allowed under international law. The statement says, “All interactions with foreign military forces during the transit were consistent with international norms and did not impact the operation.” That seems to be a response to claims that the Chinese military intercepted the naval aircraft.
The statement also stresses, “The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows including within the Taiwan Strait. The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”