2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan | |||
---|---|---|---|
Part of Cross-Strait conflict | |||
Date | 8 April 2023–10 April 2023 | ||
Location |
Pacific Ocean surrounding
Taiwan | ||
Caused by | Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the U.S. | ||
Resulted in |
| ||
Parties | |||
Lead figures | |||
The 2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan ( simplified Chinese: 2023年环台军事演练; traditional Chinese: 2023年環台軍事演練) was a series of military exercises by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) encircling Taiwan. On 8 April 2023, the PLA announced the start of "combat readiness patrols" and dispatched dozens of fighter jets and several warships toward Taiwan. [1] [2] [3] The exercises occurred in response to Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. [4]
On 4 March 2023, McCarthy announced he had planned a meeting with president Tsai, which was scheduled for early April. [5] In response, the PLA made multiple threats toward the Taiwanese government. [4] Tsai arrived in the U.S. on 4 April and met with lawmakers, including McCarthy. [6] In response, four days later the PLA dispatched dozens of aircraft and several warships toward the country's surrounding waters. [1] [7]
On 2 August 2022, then-US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan and met with president Tsai Ing-wen. [8] In response, the People's Liberation Army pursued a series of military exercises encircling Taiwan, including live-fire drills, air sorties, naval deployments, and ballistic missile launches. On 7 August, the Taiwanese government announced that it would be conducting live-fire artillery exercises in Pingtung County. [9] During drills held in Lienchiang County, flares fired by Taiwan's army started a fire. [10] On 10 August, the Eastern Theatre Command announced an end to the military exercises after it had "successfully completed various tasks and effectively tested the integrated combat capabilities of the troops". [11]
On 4 March 2023, US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy announced that he had planned a meeting with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen in the U.S. [5] After his announcement, the PLA threatened to take serious action against Tsai if she met with McCarthy. [12]
Despite the threats, Tsai arrived in the U.S. on 5 April and met with McCarthy and other prominent U.S. lawmakers. [13] The meeting took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Hours after Tsai's meeting, a congressional delegation consisting of Representative Michael McCaul, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, arrived in Taipei in their third overseas visit. [14] During their stop, McCaul stated: "we stand here today not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans in strong support of Taiwan". [15] He also compared CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping with Adolf Hitler, a remark that sparked controversy. [16] In response, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sanctioned McCaul. [17]
On 8 April 2023, the PLA announced the start of three days of "combat readiness patrols" (战备警巡) encircling Taiwan, naming the exercises "United Sharp Sword" or "Allied Sword" (联合利剑). [1] [18] [19] [20] That same day, Chinese state media released a video which mentioned several of the assets that would be used in the exercises, including PLA army rockets, the Navy's destroyer escort, a missile boat, the Air Force's J-series, fighter bombers, electronic warfare aircraft, and aerial tankers. [21]
Following the announcement, the military dispatched several warships and dozens of aircraft—including Sukhoi Su-30s and Xian H-6 bombers—toward Taiwan. [22] According to Taiwan's defense ministry, approximately 71 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. [23] The PLA later announced a live-fire exercise on waters near Pingtan Island. [24] Taiwan released a map of the flight paths of four Chinese J-15 fighter jets to the east of the island, which analysts stated were likely from the Shandong aircraft carrier which was participating in the military exercises. [25]
On 9 April 2023, Chinese fighter jets and war ships simulated strikes on Taiwan and simulated an encirclement of the island, prompting Taiwan to deploy its own warships, leading to a standoff between the two navies. [26]
In response, on 10 April the U.S. Navy sent one warship to the South China Sea. [27] That same day, China announced the end of the initial drills, but stated they would continue combat training around Taiwan. [28]
Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in an audio post to Telegram that China had the "right to respond" against the "provocative actions" against it. [25]
The European Union (EU) expressed concern about the "intensification" of military activity around Taiwan, stating that the status quo should not be changed unilaterally, or by force, and urged restraint. [29]
2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan | |||
---|---|---|---|
Part of Cross-Strait conflict | |||
Date | 8 April 2023–10 April 2023 | ||
Location |
Pacific Ocean surrounding
Taiwan | ||
Caused by | Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the U.S. | ||
Resulted in |
| ||
Parties | |||
Lead figures | |||
The 2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan ( simplified Chinese: 2023年环台军事演练; traditional Chinese: 2023年環台軍事演練) was a series of military exercises by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) encircling Taiwan. On 8 April 2023, the PLA announced the start of "combat readiness patrols" and dispatched dozens of fighter jets and several warships toward Taiwan. [1] [2] [3] The exercises occurred in response to Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. [4]
On 4 March 2023, McCarthy announced he had planned a meeting with president Tsai, which was scheduled for early April. [5] In response, the PLA made multiple threats toward the Taiwanese government. [4] Tsai arrived in the U.S. on 4 April and met with lawmakers, including McCarthy. [6] In response, four days later the PLA dispatched dozens of aircraft and several warships toward the country's surrounding waters. [1] [7]
On 2 August 2022, then-US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan and met with president Tsai Ing-wen. [8] In response, the People's Liberation Army pursued a series of military exercises encircling Taiwan, including live-fire drills, air sorties, naval deployments, and ballistic missile launches. On 7 August, the Taiwanese government announced that it would be conducting live-fire artillery exercises in Pingtung County. [9] During drills held in Lienchiang County, flares fired by Taiwan's army started a fire. [10] On 10 August, the Eastern Theatre Command announced an end to the military exercises after it had "successfully completed various tasks and effectively tested the integrated combat capabilities of the troops". [11]
On 4 March 2023, US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy announced that he had planned a meeting with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen in the U.S. [5] After his announcement, the PLA threatened to take serious action against Tsai if she met with McCarthy. [12]
Despite the threats, Tsai arrived in the U.S. on 5 April and met with McCarthy and other prominent U.S. lawmakers. [13] The meeting took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Hours after Tsai's meeting, a congressional delegation consisting of Representative Michael McCaul, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, arrived in Taipei in their third overseas visit. [14] During their stop, McCaul stated: "we stand here today not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans in strong support of Taiwan". [15] He also compared CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping with Adolf Hitler, a remark that sparked controversy. [16] In response, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sanctioned McCaul. [17]
On 8 April 2023, the PLA announced the start of three days of "combat readiness patrols" (战备警巡) encircling Taiwan, naming the exercises "United Sharp Sword" or "Allied Sword" (联合利剑). [1] [18] [19] [20] That same day, Chinese state media released a video which mentioned several of the assets that would be used in the exercises, including PLA army rockets, the Navy's destroyer escort, a missile boat, the Air Force's J-series, fighter bombers, electronic warfare aircraft, and aerial tankers. [21]
Following the announcement, the military dispatched several warships and dozens of aircraft—including Sukhoi Su-30s and Xian H-6 bombers—toward Taiwan. [22] According to Taiwan's defense ministry, approximately 71 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. [23] The PLA later announced a live-fire exercise on waters near Pingtan Island. [24] Taiwan released a map of the flight paths of four Chinese J-15 fighter jets to the east of the island, which analysts stated were likely from the Shandong aircraft carrier which was participating in the military exercises. [25]
On 9 April 2023, Chinese fighter jets and war ships simulated strikes on Taiwan and simulated an encirclement of the island, prompting Taiwan to deploy its own warships, leading to a standoff between the two navies. [26]
In response, on 10 April the U.S. Navy sent one warship to the South China Sea. [27] That same day, China announced the end of the initial drills, but stated they would continue combat training around Taiwan. [28]
Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in an audio post to Telegram that China had the "right to respond" against the "provocative actions" against it. [25]
The European Union (EU) expressed concern about the "intensification" of military activity around Taiwan, stating that the status quo should not be changed unilaterally, or by force, and urged restraint. [29]