World Courant
Taipei, Taiwan — The U.S. seventh Fleet stated a Navy P-8A Poseidon flew by means of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, a day after the U.S. and Chinese language protection chiefs held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to ease regional tensions.
The patrol and reconnaissance plane “crossed the Taiwan Strait in worldwide airspace,” the seventh Fleet stated in a information launch.
“By working within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with worldwide regulation, america upholds the navigation rights and freedoms of all nations,” the press launch stated.
Though the crucial 100-mile-wide strait separating China from the self-governing island democracy is worldwide waters, China views the passage of overseas navy plane and ships by means of it as a problem to its sovereignty. China claims the island of Taiwan and threatens to defend it with pressure if needed, regardless of US navy help for the island.
China didn’t instantly reply to the report, however has up to now issued stern protests and activated protection mechanisms in response to the passage of ships and navy plane by means of the straight, particularly these from the US. China additionally repeatedly sends naval vessels and warplanes into the straits and different areas across the island to weaken Taiwan’s defenses and intimidate the 23 million individuals who firmly help their de facto independence.
“By working within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with worldwide regulation, america upholds the navigation rights and freedoms of all nations. The airplane’s passage by means of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates america’ dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The U.S. navy flies, sails and operates wherever worldwide regulation permits,” the seventh Fleet assertion stated.
Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke Tuesday along with his Chinese language counterpart Adm. Dong Jun on the newest US effort to enhance communications with the Chinese language navy and scale back the possibility of a conflict within the area.
It was the primary time Austin spoke with Dong and the primary time he has spoken at size with a Chinese language colleague since November 2022. The decision, which lasted simply over an hour, got here as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is predicted to journey. to China this month for talks.
Army-to-military contact got here to a standstill in August 2022, when Beijing suspended all such communications after then-Speaker of the Home of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. China responded by firing missiles over Taiwan and finishing up a wave of navy maneuvers, together with what seemed to be a rehearsal of a naval and air blockade of the island.
The US Navy flies planes by means of the Taiwan Strait after the US and Chinese language protection chiefs spoke
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