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BEIJING — China's military said on Wednesday (Dec 6) it sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a US Navy patrol aircraft that flew over the sensitive Taiwan Strait, a mission that took place weeks before Taiwan holds elections.
China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan, and says it has jurisdiction over the strait. Taiwan and the US dispute that, saying the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway.
The US Navy's 7th Fleet said the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance plane, which is also used for anti-submarine missions, flew over the strait in international airspace.
"The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows," it said in a statement.
China's military described the flight as "public hype", adding it had sent fighters to monitor and warn the US plane and "deal with it in accordance with the law and regulations".
"Troops in the theatre are always on high alert and will resolutely defend national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability," the Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement.
Taiwan's defence ministry said its forces monitored the US aircraft as it flew in south through the strait, and described the situation as "normal".
The last time the US Navy announced a Poseidon had flown through the strait, in October, China said it had sent fighter jets to monitor and warn the aircraft.
Taiwan is gearing up for presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan 13, which China has cast as a choice between war and peace.
China has stepped up its military activity around Taiwan in the past four years, including staging two rounds of major war games over the last year and a half.
美国海军巡逻机飞越敏感的台湾海峡
北京——中国军方周三（12 月 6 日）表示，已派出战斗机对飞越敏感的台湾海峡的美国海军巡逻机进行监视和警告，这项任务是在台湾举行选举前几周执行的。
中国声称对民主治理的台湾拥有主权，并表示对该海峡拥有管辖权。 台湾和美国对此存在争议，称台湾海峡是国际水道。
美国海军第七舰队表示，P-8A海神海上巡逻和侦察机也用于反潜任务，在国际空域飞越了海峡。
“这架飞机飞越台湾海峡表明了美国对自由开放的印太地区的承诺。美国军队在国际法允许的任何地方飞行、航行和行动，”它在一份声明中说。
中国军方称此次飞行是“公开炒作”，并补充说，中国已派出战机对美机进行监视和警告，并“依法依规予以处理”。
解放军东部战区在声明中表示，战区部队始终保持高度戒备，坚决捍卫国家主权安全和地区和平稳定。
台湾国防部表示，当美国飞机向南飞经海峡时，台湾部队对其进行了监视，并称情况“正常”。
上次美国海军宣布波塞冬飞机飞越该海峡是在十月份，中国表示已派出战斗机对飞机进行监视和警告。
台湾正在为 1 月 13 日的总统和议会选举做准备，中国将这次选举视为战争与和平之间的选择。
过去四年来，中国加强了在台湾周边的军事活动，包括在过去一年半的时间里举行了两轮大型军演。
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