China's Military Actions Escalate in Taiwan Strait Amidst US Navy Presence

China sent fighter jets to monitor and warn a U.S. Navy patrol aircraft that flew through the Taiwan Strait, claiming sovereignty over Taiwan and jurisdiction over the waterway, while Taiwan and the United States consider it an international waterway. The U.S. Navy stated that the aircraft's transit upholds navigational rights and freedoms, demonstrating their commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific." China's military dismissed the flight as "public hype" and emphasized its readiness to defend national sovereignty and regional peace. Taiwan's defense ministry reported that the U.S. aircraft followed the median line, and the situation remained normal.