The United States says one of its patrol aircraft flew through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, drawing a backlash from China.
The US Navy’s 7th Fleet announced that its P-8A Poseidon had transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace.
It said the US “upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations. The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
In response, China’s PLA Eastern Theater Command said in a statement, “The US’s remarks distorted the legal fact, confused the public and misled the international perception.”
It went on to say, “We urge the US side to stop distorting and hyping up, and safeguard regional peace and stability.”
The two countries tried to arrange a defense ministerial meeting earlier this month but failed. China said the US is entirely responsible, citing Washington’s responses over Taiwan.
China apparently is reiterating its position not to yield over the Taiwan issue, which it calls “China’s core interests,” ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump’s administration in January.