China, US fly military planes over Taiwan Strait

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China and the US flew their military planes over the Taiwan Strait on Thursday.

According to the US naval fleet deployed in Asia-Pacific, its P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace” on Thursday.

“The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said a statement by the fleet.

However, China’s military said it “organized military aircraft to track, monitor and deal with” the US anti-submarine patrol aircraft.

“By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” said the US fleet statement.

China claims Taiwan Strait’s naval and air space comes under its territorial jurisdiction since Beijing lays claims over Taiwan island nation, which sits across the waterway on the southern side of the mainland.