Official statements from the US Department of Defense or the US 7th Fleet

US Navy P-8A Patrol Aircraft Transits Taiwan Strait on November 26; China Deploys Naval and Air Forces to Monitor

Nov 26, 2024, 08:00 AM

On November 26, a US Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft transited the Taiwan Strait from south to north, operating in international airspace, according to a statement from the US 7th Fleet. The transit demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the 7th Fleet said. In response, China's People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command deployed naval and air forces to track and monitor the aircraft throughout its entire course, maintaining vigilance and effective countermeasures, according to spokesperson Colonel Cao Jun. The Chinese side criticized the US for misrepresenting legal facts and misleading international perception. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense confirmed the transit, stating that it maintained full control over the surrounding sea and airspace, with the situation remaining normal.