2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan

{{Infobox military exercise

| title = 2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan

| subtitle =

| partof = Cross-Strait conflict

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| date = 8 April 2023–10 April 2023

| place = Pacific Ocean surrounding Taiwan

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| causes = Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the U.S.

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| result =

More PLA "patrols" announced
Further deterioration of China–US and Cross-Strait relations

| side1 = {{flagdeco|TWN}} Taiwan (Republic of China)

{{Flagicon image|ROC Ministry of National Defense Flag.svg|size=23px}} Republic of China Armed Forces

| side2 = {{flagdeco|CHN}} People's Republic of China

{{Flagicon image|Flag of the People's Liberation Army.svg|size=23px}} People's Liberation Army
Eastern Theater Command

| leadfigures1 = {{ublist

| {{nowrap

| {{flagdeco|ROC}} Tsai Ing-wen}}
(President){{efn|The presidency is an executive head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Taiwanese Armed Forces.}}

}}

| leadfigures2 = {{ublist

| {{nowrap

| {{flagdeco|PRC}} Xi Jinping}}
(General Secretary){{efn|Xi is also the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, serving as the supreme commander of the Chinese Armed Forces.}}

}}

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The 2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan ({{zh|s=2023年环台军事演练|t=2023年環台軍事演練}}) were 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.{{cite news |title=China Sends Warships, Fighter Jets Near Taiwan Following President's Meeting With US Speaker McCarthy |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/china-sends-warships-fighter-jets-near-taiwan-following-presidents-meeting-with-us-speaker-mccarthy/4222960/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=WNBC |date=8 April 2023}}{{cite news |last=McDonald |first=Joe |title=China flies fighter jets near Taiwan after leader's trip to U.S. |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-flies-fighter-jets-near-taiwan-after-leader-s-trip-to-u-s/ar-AA19CiUL |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=8 April 2023}}{{cite news |title=China holds military drills around Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meeting |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/04/08/china-taiwan-military-drills-tsai-mccarthy |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=Axios |date=8 April 2023}} The exercises occurred in response to Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.{{cite news |last1=Kube |first1=Courtney |last2=Jett |first2=Jennifer |title=U.S. lawmakers arrive in Taiwan as China blasts McCarthy's meeting with Tsai |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-lawmakers-arrive-taiwan-china-mccarthy-tsai-rcna78452 |access-date=7 April 2023 |work=NBC |date=6 April 2023}}

On 4 March 2023, McCarthy announced he had planned a meeting with president Tsai, which was scheduled for early April.{{cite news |last1=Millis |first1=Leah |title=House Speaker Kevin McCarthy plans to meet Taiwan's president in the U.S., sources say |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/07/kevin-mccarthy-plans-to-meet-taiwans-president-in-the-us-sources.html |access-date=11 March 2023 |agency=CNBC |publisher=CNBC.com |date=6 March 2023}} In response, the PLA made multiple threats toward the Taiwanese government. Tsai arrived in the U.S. on 4 April and met with lawmakers, including McCarthy.{{cite news |last=Foran |first=Clare |title=Taiwan's president warns 'democracy is under threat' in joint remarks with McCarthy |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/taiwan-president-tsai-and-speaker-mccarthy-set-to-meet-in-show-of-democratic-solidarity/ar-AA19uZt6 |access-date=5 April 2023 |work=CNN |date=5 April 2023}} In response, four days later the PLA dispatched dozens of aircraft and several warships toward the country's surrounding waters.{{cite news |title=China begins three days of military drills in Taiwan Strait |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/8/china-begins-three-days-of-military-drills-in-taiwan-strait |access-date=9 April 2023 |work=Al Jazeera |date=8 April 2023}}

Background

= 2022 military exercises =

On 2 August 2022, then-US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan and met with president Tsai Ing-wen.{{Cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Jeff |last2=Martina |first2=Michael |date=August 1, 2022 |title=White House: U.S. will not be intimidated by China; Pelosi has right to visit Taiwan |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/white-house-says-pelosi-has-right-visit-taiwan-2022-08-01 |url-access=registration |access-date=August 5, 2022 |archive-date=August 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804001906/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/white-house-says-pelosi-has-right-visit-taiwan-2022-08-01/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202208070007|title=Taiwan to hold live-fire artillery drills to test combat readiness - Focus Taiwan|website=focustaiwan.tw|date=7 August 2022 |access-date=8 August 2022|archive-date=7 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807231021/http://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202208070007|url-status=live}} During drills held in Lienchiang County, flares fired by Taiwan's army started a fire.{{Cite news|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4617703 |title=Fire breaks out on outer island during Taiwanese artillery drill | Taiwan News | 2022-08-05 23:37:00 |date=5 August 2022 |access-date=8 August 2022 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809024115/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4617703 |url-status=live }} 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".{{Cite news |last1=Qin |first1=Amy |last2=Mozur |first2=Paul |date=2 August 2022 |title=After Pelosi's arrival, China announced military drills in nearby waters. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/world/asia/china-taiwan-pelosi.html |access-date=8 August 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807071411/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/world/asia/china-taiwan-pelosi.html |url-status=live }}

= President Tsai's visit to the U.S. =

File:Kevin McCarthy met with Tsai Ing-wen at the Reagan Library.jpg with Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen, April 2023]]

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. After his announcement, the PLA threatened to take serious action against Tsai if she met with McCarthy.{{cite news |last1=Kube |first1=Courtney |last2=Jett |first2=Jennifer |title=U.S. lawmakers arrive in Taiwan as China blasts McCarthy's meeting with Tsai |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-lawmakers-arrive-taiwan-china-mccarthy-tsai-rcna78452 |access-date=April 7, 2023 |work=NBC |date=April 6, 2023}}

Despite the threats, Tsai arrived in the U.S. on 5 April and met with McCarthy and other prominent U.S. lawmakers.{{cite news |last=Foran |first=Clare |title=Taiwan's president warns 'democracy is under threat' in joint remarks with McCarthy |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/taiwan-president-tsai-and-speaker-mccarthy-set-to-meet-in-show-of-democratic-solidarity/ar-AA19uZt6 |access-date=April 5, 2023 |work=CNN |date=April 5, 2023}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Kude |first1=Courtney |last2=Jett |first2=Jennifer |title=U.S. lawmakers arrive in Taiwan as China blasts McCarthy's meeting with Tsai |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-lawmakers-arrive-taiwan-china-mccarthy-tsai-rcna78452 |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=NBC |date=6 April 2023}} During their stop, McCaul stated: "we stand here today not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans in strong support of Taiwan".{{cite news |last=Dunleavy |first=Jerry |title=Congressional delegation slams Chinese 'intimidation' tactics after touching down in Taiwan |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/mccaul-house-travel-taiwan-defiance-intimidation-china |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=Washington Examiner |date=6 April 2023}} He also compared CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping with Adolf Hitler, a remark that sparked controversy.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-06/us-lawmaker-compares-xi-to-hitler-in-meeting-with-taiwan-s-vp#xj4y7vzkg "US Lawmaker Compares Xi to Hitler in Meeting With Taiwan’s VP"] Bloomberg News. April 6, 2023. Accessed 15 April 2023. In response, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sanctioned McCaul.{{cite news |title=GOP rep. lauds CCP's sanctions on him as a 'badge of honor' |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/gop-rep-lauds-ccp-s-sanctions-on-him-as-a-badge-of-honor/ar-AA19VQmx |access-date=16 April 2023 |work=Fox News |date=16 April 2023}}

Military exercises

On 8 April 2023, the PLA announced the start of three days of "combat readiness patrols" ({{lang|zh|战备警巡}}) encircling Taiwan, naming the exercises "Joint Sword" ({{lang|zh|联合利剑}}).{{Cite web |title=國防部112年4月份第2週記者會新聞參考資料 |trans-title=News reference materials of the press conference for the 2nd week of April 2023 of the Ministry of National Defense|author= |publisher=Ministry of National Defense (Republic of China) |location=Taipei, Taiwan |url=https://www.mnd.gov.tw/Publish.aspx?p=81316&title=國防消息&SelectStyle=新聞稿 |date= 2023-04-12|accessdate=2023-10-06 |archivedate=2023-10-06 |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20231006072150/https://www.mnd.gov.tw/Publish.aspx?p=81316&title=%E5%9C%8B%E9%98%B2%E6%B6%88%E6%81%AF&SelectStyle=%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E7%A8%BF }}{{cite web|url=https://chinapower.csis.org/tracking-chinas-april-2023-military-exercises-around-taiwan/|title=Tracking China's April 2023 Military Exercises around Taiwan|website=CSIS|date=10 April 2023|access-date=14 March 2025}} 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.{{cite news |title=China starts 3 days of combat readiness patrol exercises around Taiwan |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/china-begins-drills-taiwan-day-after-leader-returns/story?id=98445791 |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=ABC News |date=8 April 2023}}

File:PLAAF H-6 Bomber Tail 20213.png bombers, one pictured here in 2022, were spotted flying over Taiwan during the exercises]]

Following the announcement, the military dispatched several warships and dozens of aircraft—including Sukhoi Su-30s and Xian H-6 bombers—toward Taiwan.{{cite news |title=China conducts second day of military drills around Taiwan |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-simulates-striking-taiwan-second-day-military-drills-rcna78828 |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=NBC |date=6 April 2023}} According to Taiwan's defense ministry, approximately 71 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.{{cite news |last1=Arslan |first1=Josh |last2=Lee |first2=Yimou |last3=Blanchard |first3=Ben |title=Chinese planes cross Taiwan Strait median line |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china-announces-drills-around-taiwan-after-us-speaker-meeting-2023-04-08/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=Reuters |date=8 April 2023}} The PLA later announced a live-fire exercise on waters near Pingtan Island.{{cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Chris |last2=Chang Chien |first2=Amy |last3=Wang |first3=Vivian |title=China Holds Military Drills Around Taiwan in 'Stern Warning' |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinas-military-says-its-ready-to-fight-after-aircraft-carrier-simulates-sealing-off-taiwan/ar-AA19GDmA |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=New York Times |date=8 April 2023}} 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.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-10 |title=China-Taiwan: Aircraft carrier 'seals off' island on third day of drills |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65229003 |access-date=2023-04-24}}

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.{{Cite web |title=China simulates strikes on Taiwan in military drills – DW – 04/09/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/china-simulates-strikes-on-taiwan-in-military-drills/video-65267367 |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=dw.com |language=en}}

In response, on 10 April the U.S. Navy sent one warship to the South China Sea.{{cite news |last1=Wallace |first1=Danielle |title=China's military says it's 'ready to fight' after aircraft carrier simulates 'sealing off' Taiwan |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinas-military-says-its-ready-to-fight-after-aircraft-carrier-simulates-sealing-off-taiwan/ar-AA19GDmA |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=Fox News |date=10 April 2023}} That same day, China announced the end of the initial drills, but stated they would continue combat training around Taiwan.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Yimou |last2=Blanchard |first2=Ben |title=China continues 'combat training' around Taiwan after drills end |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-president-says-china-military-exercises-not-responsible-2023-04-10/ |access-date=11 April 2023 |work=Rueters |date=11 April 2023}}

Reactions

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.

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.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-10 |title=EU concerned by Chinese drills around Taiwan, calls for restraint |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-concerned-by-chinese-drills-around-taiwan-calls-restraint-2023-04-10/ |access-date=2023-04-24}}