Beijing Criticises US Over Taiwan Flight

Beijing on Thursday condemned the US military for the "provocative" flight of one of its aircraft over Taiwan, saying the move infringed upon China's sovereignty and contravened international law.

A US C-40A, a military version of the Boeing 737, entered Taiwan air space with permission, though it did not land at any Taiwan airports, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office said the US aircraft had "harmed our sovereignty, security and development rights, and contravened international law and the basic norms of international relations".

"It was an illegal act and a seriously provocative incident," the office said in a statement carried by state media. "We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition."

The US Seventh Fleet said the US Navy aircraft was on a routine logistics flight from the Kadena air base in Japan to Thailand but was re-routed by Taiwan to avoid "an exercise on its east coast."

"The C-40 flew a cleared route provided by Taiwan air traffic controllers that went through their airspace and over the island and was never in the Taiwan Strait," it said in a statement. "There were no interactions or intercepts from any aircraft during the flight."

On the same day as the US aircraft flew over the island, Taiwan's air force had to warn off several PLA fighter jets which briefly entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone. Taiwan has repeatedly complained about PLA drills near the island.

The United States has stepped up its military activities near the island too, with semi-regular US Navy voyages through the Taiwan Strait. (Reuters)