Indo-Pacific'

A US Navy aircraft made a transit of the Taiwan Strait yesterday to
demonstrate the US's commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

The move, which is sure to anger Beijing, comes ahead of Chinese President Xi
Jinping's planned visit to Washington next month. Reuters reported the
transit of a P-8A Poseidon aircraft through international airspace over the
Taiwan Strait.

The China state-backed Global Times said the PLA monitored the aircraft's
progress and was told by its source that "the situation was under control."

Washington and Beijing are expecting Xi's visit next month to help stabilize
a relationship that has been tense over tariffs and trade controls ... as
well as over US support for Taiwan.

The 7th Fleet said in a statement that "the United States upholds the
navigational ‌rights and freedoms of all nations" by operating in the Taiwan
Strait, which Beijing claims jurisdiction over as part of its overarching
claim over all Taiwanese territory.

AP_JvW