The US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said in a statement the action demonstrated “the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific”, and the patrol plane had “transited the Taiwan Strait in the international space”.
“By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” it added.
It comes amid increased PLA activity in the Taiwan Strait in recent days. Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had seen 38 PLA aircraft and nine ships near the island on Wednesday, and 33 aircraft and the same number of ships the previous day. It said most of the aircraft – including Su-30 fighter jets and J-10 combat planes – crossed the median line in the strait, which separates the island from mainland China.
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