Committing To a Free Indo-Pacific Amid Rising Tensions With China

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft flew over the Taiwan Strait on September 17. This move comes just days after German naval vessels transited the waterway, demonstrating increasing Western military engagement in the region.

The P-8A flew over the 110-mile-wide channel that separates Taiwan from mainland China.

“The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Navy stated. “The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows.”

The aircraft's trip began around 12:15 p.m. and landed shortly after 1 p.m. Cmdr. Alison Maruca, a spokeswoman for the 7th Fleet, clarified that the mission was not a reaction to any specific event; sending a fleet of warships and aircraft through the strait is a part of normal operations between the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

China condemned the U.S. flight, claiming sovereignty over the waterway. China's Eastern Theater Command has labeled the transit provocative, accusing the U.S. of purposefully escalating tensions in the region. The U.S. confirmed their stance that the Taiwan Strait is “international airspace,” contrary to China’s assertion over Taiwan.

The command reportedly dispatched fighter jets to oversee the U.S. aircraft during its flight. However, “all interactions with foreign military forces during the transit were consistent with international norms and did not impact the operation,” Maruca commented.

The timing of the Poseidon flight coincides with increased military pressure from China on Taiwan. And, just four days before, two German Navy ships completed their own transit of the Taiwan Strait -- their first mission of this type in over two decades.

The U.S. Navy's activities in the Taiwan Strait serve as a clear signal of commitment to allies during escalating tensions with China.

FMI: www.navy.mil