TAIPEI, Taiwan — On Tuesday, China announced that it had deployed military aircraft and ships to keep a watchful eye on a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft passing through the strategically sensitive Taiwan Strait, an ongoing reflection of tensions between the two nations regarding Taiwan’s self-governing status.

The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet issued a statement confirming that a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane traversed the strait in the area designated as international airspace, acting in accordance with international laws. The Navy emphasized that this operation upheld the navigational rights of all nations and showcased the U.S. dedication to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

As Taiwan’s key ally and principal arms supplier, the United States frequently conducts naval and aerial transits through the waterway that separates China from the self-ruled island. China, however, regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has expressed its willingness to use force if necessary to achieve annexation.

In response to the U.S. mission, China’s official stance was one of condemnation, claiming that such actions pose risks to the stability and peace of the region. Colonel Cao Jun, a spokescolonel for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command Air Force, articulated these concerns in a statement.

China routinely dispatches military vessels or aircraft near Taiwan, a practice that has become almost daily. Just yesterday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry indicated that a Chinese surveillance balloon had been sighted over the waters to the north of the island.

The situation escalated last month when China conducted extensive military maneuvers, which included a remarkable one-day deployment of 153 military aircraft, 14 naval ships, and an additional 12 government vessels near Taiwan. This surge of military activity was primarily a reaction to Taiwan’s president dismissing Beijing’s claims over Taiwan’s sovereignty.