Chinese Fighter Jets Closely Monitor US Reconnaissance Planes In Taiwan Strait

UNSPLASH/Vishu Joo ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - China on Friday admitted that it was following an intai aircraft from the United States (US) over the Taiwan Strait.

Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Region Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), revealed that a US P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft flew over the Taiwan Strait.

"PLA fighter aircraft followed and monitored the US aircraft during the process, and closely monitored it," Shi said in a release by the Chinese Ministry of Defense as reported by ANTARA, Friday, April 28.

Shi added: "East Region Command forces remain high alert to uphold national sovereignty and regional peace and stability."

The Chinese military official reminded US warships and warplanes "often carrying out provocative measures, which really proves the US is indeed disrupting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and creating security risks in the Taiwan Strait."

Separately, the US Seventh Fleet, which covers task in Asia-Pacific, said the P-8A Poseidon plane was stopped in the Taiwan Strait "in international airspace" on Friday.

"By operating in the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the right to sail and freedom of all countries," said the Seventh Fleet.

"The plane transit in the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows, including within the Taiwan Strait," he added.