US Navy Plane Flies Over Taiwan Strait, China Responds
A US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft recently flew through the Taiwan Strait. The US 7th Fleet stated that this action reaffirms the US commitment to safeguarding navigational rights and freedoms for all nations. They emphasized that the United States operates in accordance with international law and supports a free and open Indo-Pacific.
China, however, objected to this move. Li Xi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), said that the PLA organized fighter jets to monitor the US aircraft and is on high alert to defend national sovereignty and regional stability.
Taiwan has been governed independently since 1949, but China considers it part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has accused China of misinterpreting a United Nations resolution to justify its military activities against Taiwan.
Doubts Revealed
US Navy -: The US Navy is the part of the United States military that operates ships and planes on the ocean.
P-8A Poseidon -: The P-8A Poseidon is a type of airplane used by the US Navy for finding submarines and other things in the ocean.
Taiwan Strait -: The Taiwan Strait is a narrow body of water that separates the island of Taiwan from mainland China.
US 7th Fleet -: The US 7th Fleet is a group of ships and planes from the US Navy that operate in the Pacific Ocean, near countries like Japan and South Korea.
PLA -: PLA stands for the People’s Liberation Army, which is the military of China.
sovereignty -: Sovereignty means having control or power over a certain area or country.
Independently since 1949 -: Taiwan has been governing itself without help from China since the year 1949.
