Third Taiwan Strait Crisis#Lee's 1995 visit to Cornell

{{Short description|1995–96 period of tension between Taiwan and China following the latter's missile tests}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}

{{Use American English|date=December 2018}}

{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
台灣海峽飛彈危機

| image = Taiwan Strait.png

| image_size = 332px

| partof = the Chinese Civil War

| caption = Taiwan Strait

| date = 21 July 1995 – 23 March 1996
({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=07|day1=21|year1=1995|month2=03|day2=23|year2=1996}})

| place = Taiwan Strait

| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Taiwan}} Republic of China
{{Flag|United States|1960|size=23px}} (naval support)

| combatant2 = {{flagdeco|China}} People's Republic of China

| units1 = {{Flagdeco|Taiwan}} ROC Armed Forces
{{Flagdeco|United States|1960}} United States Navy

| units2 = {{Armed forces|China}}

| commander1 = {{flagicon|Taiwan}} Lee Teng-hui
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Lien Chan
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Chiang Chung-ling
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Tang Fei
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Wu Shih-wen
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Tang Yao-ming
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Nelson Ku
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Huang Hsien-jung
{{flagicon|Taiwan}} Wang Jo-yu
{{flagicon|United States|1960}} Bill Clinton
{{flagicon|United States|1960}} John Shalikashvili
{{flagicon|United States|1960}} Archie Clemins
{{flagicon|United States|1960}} Lyle Bien

| commander2 = {{flagicon|China}} Jiang Zemin
{{flagicon|China}} Li Peng
{{flagicon|China}} Liu Huaqing
{{flagicon|China}} Zhang Zhen
{{flagicon|China}} Zhang Lianzhong
{{flagicon|China}} Chi Haotian
{{flagicon|China|military|size=23px}} Zhang Wannian
{{flagicon|China|military|size=23px}} Fu Quanyou

| strength1 = {{flagicon|Taiwan}}
MIM-104 Patriot, MIM-23 Hawk, F-5 Tiger, F-CK-1, F-104 Starfighter, {{sclass|Knox|frigate|1}}, {{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|1}}, etc.
{{Flagdeco|United States|1960}}
{{USS|Independence|CV-62}}, {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68}}, {{USS|Belleau Wood|LHA-3}}, {{USS|Bunker Hill|CG-52}}, etc.

| strength2 = {{flagicon|China}} DF-15, J-7 Fishbed, J-8 Finback, etc.

| result = Inconclusive

  • Ceasefire

}}

The Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, also called the 1995–1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, or the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, was the effect of a series of missile tests conducted by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the waters surrounding Taiwan, including the Taiwan Strait, from 21 July 1995 to 23 March 1996. The first set of missiles fired in mid-to-late 1995 was allegedly intended to send a strong signal to the Republic of China government under President Lee Teng-hui, who had been seen as "moving its foreign policy away from the One-China policy", as claimed by PRC.{{cite web |title=Taiwan's President Speaks at Cornell Reunion Weekend |url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/campus/Lee/Lee-index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710033443/http://www.news.cornell.edu/campus/Lee/Lee-index.html |archive-date=2012-07-10 |access-date=20 July 2010 |publisher=Cornell University}} The second set of missiles was fired in early 1996, allegedly intending to intimidate the Taiwanese electorate in the run-up to the 1996 presidential election.

Lee's 1995 visit to Cornell

{{see also|1996 Taiwanese presidential election}}

The crisis began when President Lee Teng-hui accepted an invitation from his alma mater, Cornell University, to deliver a speech on "Taiwan's Democratization Experience". Seeking to diplomatically isolate the Republic of China, the PRC opposed such visits by ROC (Taiwanese) leaders. A year earlier, in 1994, when President Lee's plane had stopped in Honolulu to refuel after a trip to South America, the U.S. government under President Bill Clinton refused Lee's request for a visa. Lee had been confined to the military airfield where he landed, forcing him to spend a night on his plane. A U.S. State Department official called the situation "embarrassing" and Lee complained that he was being treated as a second-class leader.

After Lee had decided to visit Cornell, U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher assured PRC Foreign Minister Qian Qichen that a visa for Lee would be "inconsistent with [the U.S.'s] unofficial relationship [with Taiwan]." However, the humiliation from Lee's last visit caught the attention of many pro-Taiwan figures in the U.S. and this time, the United States Congress acted on Lee's behalf. The lobbying firm Cassidy & Associates worked to obtain Congressional support for the visit. In May 1995, a concurrent resolution asking the State Department to allow Lee to visit the U.S. passed the House on 2 May with a vote of 396 to 0 (with 38 not voting), and the Senate on 9 May with a vote of 97 to 1 (with 2 not voting).{{USBill|104|hcr|53}}. Senator Bennett Johnston Jr. (D-LA) was the lone "nay" voter The State Department relented on 22 May 1995. Lee spent 9–10 June 1995 in the U.S. at a Cornell alumni reunion.

The United States had not prepared the People's Republic of China for its policy reversal in granting a visa.{{Cite book |last=Lampton |first=David M. |author-link=David M. Lampton |title=Living U.S.-China Relations: From Cold War to Cold War |date=2024 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-8725-8 |location=Lanham, MD |pages=}}{{Rp|page=224}} While in the United States, Lee stated, "Taiwan is a country with independent sovereignty.{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |title=The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics |publisher=Routledge |year=2024 |isbn=9781032861661 |editor-last=Zhao |editor-first=Suisheng |editor-link=Suisheng Zhao |location=London and New York |pages= |chapter=Is Beijing's Long Game on Taiwan about to End? Peaceful Unification, Brinksmanship, and Military Takeover |doi=}}{{Rp|page=11}} PRC leadership described Lee's moves as an effort to "split the motherland".Denny Roy. Taiwan: A Political History. Cornell University Press, 2003. p. 197. {{ISBN|9780801488054}}

1995

In July 1995, Xinhua News Agency announced missile tests would be conducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA); later, it announced when the exercises finished.{{Cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Fiona S. |title=Under the Nuclear Shadow: China's Information-Age Weapons in International Security |date=2025 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-26103-4 |location=}}{{Rp|page=145}} The PRC mobilized forces in Fujian. The PRC sent officials to both Washington D.C. and Taipei to convey that the PRC did not intend to invade Taiwan.{{Rp|page=145}} According to Sankei Shimbun series "Secret Records on Lee Teng-hui" dated 1 April 2019, Tseng Yong-hsien, Lee's National Policy Adviser, received a direct message from China official in early July 1995; "Our ballistic missiles will be launched toward Taiwan a couple of weeks later, but you guys don't have to worry." This was communicated to Lee soon after, to prevent escalation. Tseng, as an envoy of Lee, had met President Yang Shangkun in 1992 and had a secret connection with Ye Xuanning, Head of the Liaison Department of the PLA.The series was later published as a book: 李登輝秘録 (Ri Touki Hiroku) {{ISBN|978-4819113885}}.

From 21 July to 28 July, the Second Artillery Corps (SAC) conducted a round of missile launches in an area 36 miles north of Taiwan.{{Cite book |last=Li |first=Xiaobing |title=China under Xi Jinping: A New Assessment |publisher=Leiden University Press |year=2024 |isbn=9789087284411 |editor-last=Fang |editor-first=Qiang |chapter=Beijing's Military Power and East Asian-Pacific Hot Spots |editor-last2=Li |editor-first2=Xiaobing}}{{Rp|page=267}} On 21 July, SAC launched two Dongfeng-15 missiles approximately 70 nautical miles from the coast of Taiwan.{{Rp|page=267}} On 22 July, SAC fired two missiles at an area 40 miles north of Taiwan.{{Rp|pages=267-268}} On 24 July, it fired two more at the same area.{{Rp|page=268}} Simultaneously, the PRC concentrated naval and amphibious landing forces in the area of the strait and conducted military exercises.{{Rp|page=268}}

The United States responded by sending two aircraft carrier groups to the vicinity of Taiwan.{{Rp|page=224}} In July 1995, USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) transited the Taiwan Strait.{{Cite web |last=Roper |first=John C. |date=26 January 1996 |title=U.S. aircraft carrier in Asia 'routine' |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/01/26/US-aircraft-carrier-in-Asia-routine/5535822632400/ |access-date=2022-01-08 |website=UPI |language=en |location=Washington, D.C.}}

From 15 August to 25 August, the East Sea Fleet deployed 59 naval vessels for exercises, during which the People's Liberation Army Air Force practiced 192 sorties.{{Rp|page=268}} Naval exercises continued in September and October.{{Rp|page=145}} In November, the PLA conducted a major amphibious landing exercise in Nanjing Military Region.{{Rp|page=145}}

The United States sent the USS O'Brien (DD-975) and USS McClusky FFG-41 through the strait on 11–12 December 1995. Finally on 19 December 1995, the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and her battle group passed through the straits.

1996

Between January and February 1996, the PRC concentrated 100,000 troops along the strait and conducted large scale exercises.{{Rp|page=268}} Tensions remained high in early 1996 as Taiwan prepared for its first presidential election and Lee Teng-hui ran on the Kuomintang's ticket.{{Rp|page=268}}

On 8 March, the PRC fired more missiles 20 miles off Keelung and 29 miles off Kaohsiung.{{Rp|page=268}} Over 70 percent of commercial shipping passed through the targeted ports, which were disrupted by the proximity of the tests.{{cite book|last=Li|first=Xiaobing|title=China at War: An Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jhPyvsdymU8C&pg=PA445|date=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-415-3|page=445|access-date=28 March 2015}}{{cite news |title=U.S. Navy ships to sail near Taiwan |url=http://edition.cnn.com/US/9603/us_china/ |publisher=CNN |date=10 March 1996 |access-date=28 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402191204/http://edition.cnn.com/US/9603/us_china/ |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live }} The PRC also conducted a launch on 11 March.{{Rp|page=146}}

On 10 March, the United States announced that it was dispatching the USS Independence toward the strait.{{Rp|page=146}} According to the Washington Post, that same day; the USS Bunker Hill CG-52 (which had detached from the Independence Battlegroup) along with a RC-135 Intelligence aircraft monitored the launch of 3 CSS-6 (DF-15) missiles from the PRC, two of them into shipping lanes near Kaohsiung and one fired directly over Taipei into a shipping lane near Keelung.{{Cite web |last=Gellman |first=Barton |date=21 June 1998 |title=U.S. AND CHINA NEARLY CAME TO BLOWS IN '96 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/06/21/us-and-china-nearly-came-to-blows-in-96/926d105f-1fd8-404c-9995-90984f86a613/ |publisher=The Washington Post}}

On the following day, the PRC announced live-fire exercises to be conducted near Penghu from 12 to 20 March. On 11 March, the U.S. dispatched USS Nimitz CVN-68 and her battlegroup, Carrier Group Seven.{{Cite book |url=https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn68-95/index.html |title=USS Nimitz CVN-68 WestPac Cruise Book 1994-96 |publisher=United States Navy |year=1996}}{{Rp|page=268}} Nimitz and her battle group, along with Belleau Wood, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, while Independence did not.{{cite book |last=Elleman |first=Bruce |title=Taiwan Straits: Crisis in Asia and the Role of the U.S. Navy |date=2014 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8108-8890-6 |page=130}}{{cite book |last=Copper |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/taiwansmid1990se00copp/page/116 |url-access=registration |title=Taiwan's Mid-1990s Elections: Taking the Final Steps to Democracy |date=1998 |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=978-0-275-96207-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/taiwansmid1990se00copp/page/116 116]}} The PRC 12 March to 20 March exercises proceeded{{Rp|page=146}} and in response to the U.S. moves, the PRC announced further exercises.{{Rp|page=268}}

From 18 March to 25 March, the PRC conducted military exercises involving airplanes, guided missile destroyers, submarines, and 150,000 troops at Pingtan Island.{{Rp|pages=268-269}} The exercises practiced amphibious landing, mountainous assaults, and included paratrooper exercises.{{Rp|page=269}}

Aftermath

Shipping and insurance rates for freight to Taiwan radically increased during the crisis and two of the Chinese missile launches twice closed the straits to all sea and airborne commerce.{{Rp|page=19}}

The crisis boosted Lee by 5% in the polls, earning him a majority as opposed to a plurality.{{cite web |last=Baron |first=James |date=18 August 2020 |title=The Glorious Contradictions of Lee Teng-hui |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/08/the-glorious-contradictions-of-lee-teng-hui/ |access-date=28 September 2020 |work=The Diplomat}} On March 23, 1996, Lee was elected Taiwan's president.{{Rp|page=269}}

The PLA viewed the 1995 military exercises as successful.{{Rp|page=147}} Zhang Wannian stated, "First, they showed the strong resolve of the PLA in protecting national unity; second, they served as a warning to the outside intervening powers; third, they also provided encouragement for the people on Taiwan who supported peaceful reunification of the island."{{Rp|page=147}} Fu Quanyou reported to Central Military Commission that the 1995 exercises were "all extremely successful: they attacked the power of the 'Taiwan separatists' represented by Lee Teng-hui, warned the United States as the main outside intervening power, and they were forcefully accompanied by political and diplomatic struggles and were highly praised by the Politburo and the CMC."{{Rp|page=147}}

The PLA believed that it lacked sufficiently leverage in comparison to the United States.{{Rp|page=147}} Jiang ordered the PLA to begin a ten-year modernization program.{{Rp|page=225}} Soon the People's Republic ordered {{sclass|Sovremenny|destroyer|1}}s from Russia, a Cold War-era class designed to counter U.S. Navy carrier battle groups, allegedly in mid-December 1996 during the visit to Moscow by Chinese Premier Li Peng. The PRC subsequently ordered modern attack submarines ({{sclass2|Kilo|submarine|4}}) and warplanes (76 Su-30MKK and 24 Su-30MK2) to counter the U.S. Navy's carrier groups.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The military tests and exercises also strengthened the argument for further U.S. arms sales to the ROC and led to the strengthening of military ties between the U.S. and Japan, increasing the role Japan would play in defending Taiwan.

During the military exercises in March, there were preoccupations in Taiwan that the PRC would occupy some small islands controlled by Taiwan, causing panic among many citizens. Therefore, many flights from Taiwan to the United States and Canada were full.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} The most likely target was Wuqiu (Wuchiu), then garrisoned by 500 soldiers. The outlying islands were placed on high alert.{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/The_Times_News_Idaho_Newspaper_1996_02_25/page/n17|date=25 February 1996|title=Report: China expected to attack island|page=C6|newspaper=The Times-News|quote=The most likely target would be Wuchiu, above five miles off the eastern coast of China, the report said. The island has a garrison of 500 soldiers. To prepare for an attack, outlying islands have been placed on high alert, it said.}} The then secretary general of the National Security Council of Taiwan, Ting Mao-shih, flew to New York to meet Samuel Berger, Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States.{{cite journal|last=Xin|first=Qiang|url=http://ias.cass.cn/show/show_mgyj.asp?id=1225&table=mgyj |title=迈向"准军事同盟":美台安全合作的深化与升级(1995~2008)|trans-title=Moving toward a "Quasi-Military Alliance": The Deepening and Upgrading of US–Taiwan Security Cooperation (1995–2008)|journal=American Studies Quarterly|issue=4|year=2009|language=zh|access-date=2013-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604193934/http://ias.cass.cn/show/show_mgyj.asp?id=1225&table=mgyj |archive-date=2013-06-04 }}

In 1999, Major General Liu Liankun, a top Chinese military logistics officer, and his subordinate Senior Colonel Shao Zhengzhong were arrested, court-martialed and executed for disclosing to Taiwan that the missiles had unarmed warheads despite the Chinese government's claims.{{Cite web |last=Lim |first=Benjamin Kang |date=14 September 1999 |title=China executes two for spying for Taiwan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/09/14/china-executes-two-for-spying-for-taiwan/2572942a-153e-41d2-8ecd-fa209f2779f2/ |access-date=26 September 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

{{column|num=4

|1=

{{Location map many| Japan Ryukyu Islands

| caption = The four vertices (red) (23°13′N 122°20′E, 25°13′N 122°40′E, 24°57′N 122°40′E, 24°57′N 122°20′E) of the announced quadrilateral area reserved for the military exercise off Keelung (orange) between 8 and 15 March 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.cctv.com/lm/655/32/39507.html|script-title=zh:硝烟滚滚震慑"台独"——东南沿海演习始末(下) |trans-title=Gunpowder smoke deters "Taiwanese independence" — the beginning and end of the southeast coastal exercise (part 2) |publisher=China Central Television|access-date=2019-07-26|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222119/http://www.cctv.com/lm/655/32/39507.html|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=live}}

| mark1size = 5

| lat1_deg = 25

| lat1_min = 13

| lat1_dir =

| lon1_deg = 122

| lon1_min = 20

| lon1_dir =

| mark2size = 5

| lat2_deg = 25

| lat2_min = 13

| lat2_dir =

| lon2_deg = 122

| lon2_min = 40

| lon2_dir =

| mark3size = 5

| lat3_deg = 24

| lat3_min = 57

| lat3_dir =

| lon3_deg = 122

| lon3_min = 40

| lon3_sec =

| lon3_dir =

| mark4size = 5

| lat4_deg = 24

| lat4_min = 57

| lat4_dir =

| lon4_deg = 122

| lon4_min = 20

| lon4_dir =

| label5 = Keelung

| position5 = top

| mark5 = Orange pog.svg

| lat5_deg = 25

| lat5_min = 08

| lat5_dir =

| lon5_deg = 121

| lon5_min = 44

| lon5_dir =

}}

|2=

{{Location map many|Taiwan

| caption = The four vertices (red) (22°38′N 119°25′E, 22°38′N 119°45′E, 22°22′N 119°45′E, 22°22′N 119°25′E) of the announced quadrilateral area reserved for the military exercise off Kaohsiung (orange) between 8 and 15 March 1996.

| lat1_deg = 22

| lat1_min = 38

| lat1_dir =

| lon1_deg = 119

| lon1_min = 25

| lon1_dir =

| lat2_deg = 22

| lat2_min = 38

| lat2_dir =

| lon2_deg = 119

| lon2_min = 45

| lon2_dir =

| lat3_deg = 22

| lat3_min = 22

| lat3_dir =

| lon3_deg = 119

| lon3_min = 45

| lon3_dir =

| lat4_deg = 22

| lat4_min = 22

| lat4_dir =

| lon4_deg = 119

| lon4_min = 25

| lon4_dir =

| label5 = Kaohsiung

| position5 = top

| mark5 = Orange pog.svg

| lat5_deg = 22

| lat5_min = 38

| lat5_dir =

| lon5_deg = 120

| lon5_min = 16

| lon5_dir =

}}

|3=

{{Location map many| South China Sea

| caption = The four vertices (red) (23°57′N 118°06′E, 23°25′N 118°50′E, 22°30′N 117°30′E, 23°01′N 116°46′E) of the announced quadrilateral area reserved for the military exercise between 12 and 20 March 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.china.com.cn/aboutchina/txt/2009-03/19/content_17466231.htm|script-title=zh:1996年3月20日 中国人民解放军在东海和南海进行海空实弹演习|trans-title=20 March 1996: The Chinese People's Liberation Army conducts sea and air live ammunition exercises in the East China Sea and the South China Sea|website=people.com.cn|date=2009-03-19|access-date=17 December 2014|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630104434/http://www.china.com.cn/aboutchina/txt/2009-03/19/content_17466231.htm|archive-date=30 June 2010}}

| lat1_deg = 23

| lat1_min = 57

| lat1_dir =

| lon1_deg = 118

| lon1_min = 06

| lon1_dir =

| lat2_deg = 23

| lat2_min = 25

| lat2_dir =

| lon2_deg = 118

| lon2_min = 50

| lon2_dir =

| lat3_deg = 22

| lat3_min = 30

| lat3_dir =

| lon3_deg = 117

| lon3_min = 30

| lon3_dir =

| lat4_deg = 23

| lat4_min = 01

| lat4_dir =

| lon4_deg = 116

| lon4_min = 46

| lon4_dir =

}}

|4=

{{Location map many| Taiwan

| caption = The four vertices (red) (25°50′N 119°50′E, 25°32′N 120°24′E, 24°54′N 119°56′E, 25°12′N 119°26′E) of the announced quadrilateral area reserved for the military exercise between 18 and 25 March 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.china.com.cn/aboutchina/txt/2009-03/16/content_17452166.htm|title=zh:1996年3月18日 中国人民解放军在台湾海峡进行陆海空联合演习|trans-title=18 March 1996: The Chinese People's Liberation Army conducts joint land, sea and air exercises in the Taiwan Strait|website=people.com.cn|date=2009-03-16|access-date=17 December 2014|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522185111/http://www.china.com.cn/aboutchina/txt/2009-03/16/content_17452166.htm|archive-date=22 May 2013}}

| lat1_deg = 25

| lat1_min = 50

| lat1_dir =

| lon1_deg = 119

| lon1_min = 50

| lon1_dir =

| lat2_deg = 25

| lat2_min = 32

| lat2_dir =

| lon2_deg = 120

| lon2_min = 24

| lon2_dir =

| lat3_deg = 24

| lat3_min = 54

| lat3_dir =

| lon3_deg = 119

| lon3_min = 56

| lon3_dir =

| lat4_deg = 25

| lat4_min = 12

| lat4_dir =

| lon4_deg = 119

| lon4_min = 26

| lon4_dir =

}}

}}

U.S. order of battle (March 1996 – May 1996)

= U.S. 7th Fleet =

See also

References

{{Reflist}}{{Chinese Civil War}}

{{Post-Cold War Asian conflicts}}

{{PRC conflicts}}

{{Cross-Strait relations}}

{{Taiwan–United States relations}}

{{Authority control}}

{{coord missing|Taiwan}}

Crisis

Category:1995 in China

Category:1995 in Taiwan

Category:1996 in China

Category:1996 in Taiwan

Category:Conflicts in 1995

Category:Conflicts in 1996

Category:Cross-strait conflict

Category:Naval history of China

Category:Taiwan under Republic of China rule

Category:Military history of Taiwan