Beijing-US Plane In Taiwan Strait 'Disrupts Regional Situation'

MNI (London)-Comments from the Chinese military stating that it has closely monitored a US military P-8A aircraft as it traversed the Taiwan strait. Says that, "The US' side's actions deliberately interferes with and disrupts the regional situation and endangers the peace and stability of Taiwan...We firmly oppose the US action."

• The Boeing P-8A Posiedon aircraft is used by the US Navy for anti-submarine and reconnaissance activities.
• On 26 Feb, CIA Director William Burns, speaking in a TV interview, played down the view that China might invade Taiwan in the coming years, stating"President Xi has instructed the PLA, the Chinese military leadership, to be ready by 2027 to invade Taiwan, but that doesn't mean that he's decided to invade in 2027 or any other year as well. I think our judgment at least is that President Xi and his military leadership have doubts today about whether they could accomplish that invasion." He added that nevertheless, the West must take the threat to Taiwan "very seriously".
• Chinese foreign policy coming increasingly into the spotlight, as speculation swirls that Beijing could in the near future provide military hardware to Moscow for use in the invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv's allies have sought to strongly discourage this potential scenario.