China flies a military drone over Taiwan; US Navy jet transits strait. As a U.S. maritime patrol aircraft transited the Taiwan Strait, a Chinese uncrewed combat aircraft flew around Taiwan, demonstrating Beijing’s ability to attack its fall-back east coast bases.

Over the past three years, China has increased military pressure on Taiwan to force Taipei to accept its sovereignty claim.

After Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, China held war games around Taiwan this month.

Taiwan’s defense ministry reported 19 Chinese military aircraft entering the island’s air defense identification zone on Friday morning.

According to a ministry map, a TB-001 drone flew around Taiwan, passing the Bashi Channel that divides Taiwan from the Philippines, then up the east of Taiwan, and finally back toward the Chinese shore.

After Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, China held war games around Taiwan this month.

Taiwan’s defense ministry reported 19 Chinese military aircraft entering the island’s air defense identification zone on Friday morning.

According to a ministry map, a TB-001 drone flew around Taiwan, passing the Bashi Channel that divides Taiwan from the Philippines, then up the east of Taiwan, and finally back toward the Chinese shore.

China’s crewed, nuclear-capable H-6 bomber has conducted “island encirclement” flights.

Washington and its allies have regularly voiced worry about China’s behavior and urged no forced change in Taiwan’s status quo.

A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft sailed across the Taiwan Strait on Friday, while a top French politician confirmed a warship had transited the delicate waterway.

In recent years, the U.S. and sometimes its allies have moved warships and planes via the Taiwan Strait.

The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet stated that Poseidon flew in international airspace.

“By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” it stated. “The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

China’s military tracked the aircraft and accused the U.S. of strait provocations.

Last year, China claimed sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait, calling it “a false claim” to call it international waters.

Taiwan and the U.S. disagree with China.

On Friday, a French senator and former defense minister told Tsai in her Taipei office that sending a warship across the strait demonstrated his country’s security commitment.

“I want to tell you that our parliament’s view is that the security of Taiwan is an important concern for us and we are encouraging our authorities to stay alert on security in the Strait, as our warship’s recent passage has again demonstrated,” French Senate Vice President Alain Richard said.

The French and Taiwanese governments have not confirmed the sailing date. However, Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed the transit this month.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned against being pulled into a Taiwan issue fueled by “American rhythm and a Chinese overreaction.”