U.S. officials have expressed concerns over China's increasing military assertiveness, particularly in the South China Sea. Recent developments saw a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft, operating from Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, transit through the Taiwan Strait into the South China Sea on April 17, 2024, in international airspace. This move was described by the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet as a demonstration of the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. In response, China's PLA Eastern Theater Command tracked and monitored the U.S. aircraft, asserting their vigilance and readiness to safeguard national interests. The incident occurred shortly after a call between Chinese and U.S. defense chiefs, during which China scrambled fighter jets to shadow the U.S. aircraft, emphasizing the heightened tensions in the region.
China sends fighter jets to shadow US Navy plane over Taiwan Strait https://t.co/vHdyh3HpR6
#China’s military says it sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a #US Navy patrol aircraft that flew over the sensitive #TaiwanStrait, a mission that took place just hours after a call between the Chinese and US defense chiefs. https://t.co/OCD085pefH
PLA follows, monitors U.S. P-8A aircraft's transit of Taiwan Straits on Wednesday. https://t.co/Kk4Y2mOC0H
🚨🇨🇳🇺🇸CHINA WARNS U.S AFTER JET FLIES OVER TAIWAN STRAIT China scrambled fighter jets to shadow a U.S reconnaissance aircraft as it flew over the disputed Taiwan Strait hours after a call between Chinese and U.S. defense chiefs. U.S Navy: "By operating within the Taiwan Strait… https://t.co/1PDhT8l8uH
PLA Eastern Theater Command has organized forces to track and monitor the #US P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft that flew over the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, a spokesperson said, noting PLA is on high vigilance all the time and will resolutely safeguard China's national… https://t.co/2ruxCK6jms
CHINA SAYS IT TRACKED US NAVY AIRCRAFT'S TAIWAN STRAIT TRANSIT.
U.S. Navy's 7th Fleets says a P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, in a move that "demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific." https://t.co/IYY6KDKKK3
US NAVY'S P-8A POSEIDON PASSES THROUGH TAIWAN STRAIT IN INTERNATIONAL AIRSPACE ON APRIL 17
US Navy P-8A Poseidon #AE6787 out of Kadena AFB Okinawa tracking through the Taiwan Strait to the South China Sea. https://t.co/e7hQz4eycs
U.S. officials address China's imposing military power, escalating tensions in South China Sea, and pushing its neighboring boundaries. Experts interpret this as a warning shot to its assertiveness. https://t.co/waPZFt5EDo