China sends planes and ships to track US patrol plane

The US sent a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to fly over the Taiwan Strait, causing China to dispatch planes and ships to monitor and respond.

A P-8A Poseidon approaches a KC-135 refueling aircraft over the Pacific Ocean .

China's military said on November 26 that it had dispatched naval and air forces to monitor and warn a US Navy patrol aircraft flying over the Taiwan Strait, accusing Washington of trying to "mislead" the international community.

The US Navy's 7th Fleet said a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flew through the strait "in international airspace", adding that the flight demonstrated the US commitment to a free and open Indo- Pacific region.

"By operating in the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States protects the maritime rights and freedoms of all nations," Reuters quoted the 7th Fleet's statement.

The Chinese military criticized the flight as "hyping up public opinion", adding that it had monitored the US aircraft throughout its flight through the strait and had responded "effectively" to the situation.

"The relevant US remarks distort legal principles, confuse public opinion and mislead international understanding. We urge the US side to stop distorting and hyping up, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability," the Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command said in a statement.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said the P-8A aircraft flew north across the Taiwan Strait and the agency monitored it, finding that "the situation was normal."

In April, the Chinese military said it scrambled fighter jets to monitor and warn off a US Navy patrol aircraft over the Taiwan Strait, just hours after a phone call between US and Chinese defense officials.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-quoc-dieu-may-bay-va-tau-theo-doi-may-bay-tuan-tra-my-185241126182140771.htm