Jump to content

2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 124.197.56.61 (talk) at 06:00, 10 April 2023 (→‎Military exercises). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the April 2023 military exercises around Taiwan. For the August 2022 military exercises, see 2022 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan.
2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan
Part of Cross-Strait conflict
Date8 April 2023–present
Location
Ocean surrounding Taiwan
Caused byTsai 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) are a series of ongoing military exercises by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) encircling Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC). On 8 April 2023, the PLA of the People's Republic of China (PRC) 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 retaliation to Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen's visit 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 prominent lawmakers, including McCarthy.[6] In retaliation, four days later the PLA dispatched dozens of aircrafts and several war ships toward the country's surrounding waters. They are expected to remain until 10 April.[1][7]

Background

2022 military exercises

Main article: 2022 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan

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. The exercises included 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, 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]

President Tsai's visit to the U.S.

File:2023-McCarthy-Tsai-meeting.png
Speaker McCarthy greeting President Tsai at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on April 5, 2023

On 4 March 2023, US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy announced he would be declining an invite from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Ukraine, saying he opposed giving "blank checks" to Ukraine and did not need to visit Ukraine to know whether the money was necessary.[12] In his announcement, he also said he had planned a meeting with the 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.[13]

Despite the threats, Tsai arrived in the U.S. on 5 April and met with McCarthy and other prominent U.S. lawmakers.[14] At the meeting, which most dominantly took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, McCarthy denounced China's threats, stating, "there is no place that China is going to tell me where I can go or who I can speak to, whether you be foe or whether you be friend".[15] The meeting itself was described as a historic first.[16][17]

Military exercises

On 8 April 2023, the PLA announced the start three day "combat readiness patrols" encircling Taiwan.[1] 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.[18]

Following the announcement, the military dispatched several warships and dozens of aircraft—including Sukhoi Su-30s and Xian H-6 bombers—toward Taiwan.[19] According to Taiwan's defense ministry, approximately 71 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "China Sends Warships, Fighter Jets Near Taiwan Following President's Meeting With US Speaker McCarthy". WNBC. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  2. ^ McDonald, Joe (8 April 2023). "China flies fighter jets near Taiwan after leader's trip to U.S." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  3. ^ "China holds military drills around Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meeting". Axios. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b Kube, Courtney; Jett, Jennifer (6 April 2023). "U.S. lawmakers arrive in Taiwan as China blasts McCarthy's meeting with Tsai". NBC. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Millis, Leah (6 March 2023). "House Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to meet Taiwan's president in the U.S., sources say". CNBC.com. CNBC. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  6. ^ Foran, Clare (5 April 2023). "Taiwan's president warns 'democracy is under threat' in joint remarks with McCarthy". CNN. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  7. ^ "China begins three days of military drills in Taiwan Strait". Al Jazeera. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. ^ Mason, Jeff; Martina, Michael (August 1, 2022). "White House: U.S. will not be intimidated by China; Pelosi has right to visit Taiwan". Reuters. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Taiwan to hold live-fire artillery drills to test combat readiness - Focus Taiwan". focustaiwan.tw. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Fire breaks out on outer island during Taiwanese artillery drill | Taiwan News | 2022-08-05 23:37:00". 5 August 2022. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  11. ^ Qin, Amy; Mozur, Paul (2 August 2022). "After Pelosi's arrival, China announced military drills in nearby waters". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  12. ^ Berg, Matt (March 8, 2023). "McCarthy rejects Zelenskyy's invitation to Ukraine". Politico.com. Politico. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Kube, Courtney; Jett, Jennifer (April 6, 2023). "U.S. lawmakers arrive in Taiwan as China blasts McCarthy's meeting with Tsai". NBC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Foran, Clare (April 5, 2023). "Taiwan's president warns 'democracy is under threat' in joint remarks with McCarthy". CNN. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  15. ^ Creitz, Charles (April 6, 2023). "Kevin McCarthy blasts China's response to Taiwanese president visit". Fox News. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  16. ^ Mascaro, Lisa (April 6, 2023). "For Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan's leader, a visit marks a historic first". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  17. ^ "A rare, historic visit for McCarthy and Taiwan's leader at the Reagan Library". MSN. 6 April 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "China starts 3 days of combat readiness patrol exercises around Taiwan". ABC News. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  19. ^ "China conducts second day of military drills around Taiwan". NBC. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  20. ^ Arslan, Josh; Lee, Yimou; Blanchard, Ben (8 April 2023). "Chinese planes cross Taiwan Strait median line". Reuters. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2023_Chinese_military_exercises_around_Taiwan&oldid=1149100192"