US Navy Patrol In Taiwan Strait Spark Tensions, Reaffirms Commitment To Free Indo-Pacific

A US Navy patrol aircraft transited the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, asserting international rights in the disputed waters, the US 7th Fleet reported. The flight, conducted by a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, passed through what the US deems international airspace, reinforcing Washington’s ongoing commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

This action is part of regular US military operations in the region, which frequently stir tensions with China. Beijing, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, asserts jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, a critical waterway separating the self-governing island from mainland China. The US and Taiwan, however, maintain that the strait is international waters, with freedom of passage for all nations.

The US Navy emphasized that the operation, conducted in accordance with international law, upheld the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations. These transits are a frequent part of US efforts to challenge China’s territorial claims and maintain open access to key waterways in the region.

China’s defense ministry had not immediately responded to the latest transit. In April, Chinese military jets had intercepted a US Navy Poseidon aircraft in the strait, following a call between the Chinese and US defense chiefs. The latest flight underscores the ongoing strategic competition between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific.