China's war games around Taiwan over the years
April 2 (Reuters) - China launched its latest round of war games around Taiwan on Tuesday, saying on Wednesday they were code-named "Strait Thunder-2025" and were a "stern warning" against separatism.
The People's Republic of China has claimed Taiwan through its "one China" policy since the Chinese civil war forced the defeated Republic of China government to flee to the island in 1949, and has vowed to bring Taiwan under Beijing's rule, by force if necessary.
The government in Taiwan strongly rejects the Chinese sovereignty claims, saying it is already an independent country called the Republic of China, and that only its people can decide their future.
Here are some facts on military tensions between China and Taiwan and previous Chinese military exercises.
- China and Taiwan have nearly gone to war several times since 1949. The two sides last joined battle on a large scale in 1958, when Chinese forces bombed the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen and Matsu islands for more than a month, alongside naval and air combat.
- Ahead of Taiwan's first direct presidential election in 1996, China carried out missile tests in waters close to the island, hoping to prevent people voting for Lee Teng-hui, whom China suspected of harbouring pro-independence views. Lee won convincingly.
- In August 2022, furious at a visit to Taipei by then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, China held several days of war games around Taiwan, including launches of ballistic missiles, some of which flew over Taipei, and simulated sea and air attacks in surrounding skies and waters.
- In April 2023, China held three days of drills around Taiwan, saying they had tested integrated military capabilities under combat conditions, having practised precision strikes and blockading the island. Those drills came after Taiwan's then-President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with Kevin McCarthy, who at the time was U.S. House speaker.
- In August 2023, China launched military drills around Taiwan as a "serious warning" to "separatists" in an angry but widely expected response to then-Vice President Lai's visit to the United States.
- In May 2024, shortly after Lai's inauguration as president, China launched "punishment" drills dubbed "Joint Sword - 2024A" around Taiwan in what it said was a response to "separatist acts", sending up heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks.
- In October 2024, China held one day of "Joint Sword - 2024B" war games around Taiwan in response to a national day speech by Lai. Taiwan said China used a record number of military aircraft in those exercises.
- In December 2024, Taiwan reported a large rise in Chinese air force and navy activity around the island and in waters in the region, though China never officially confirmed it was holding exercises.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
41 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
UK will handle US security concerns over new Chinese embassy plan, says Kyle
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle indicated the UK would offer a 'fulsome response' to any concerns raised by allies amid suggestions that US opposition could undermine transatlantic trade negotiations. Mr Kyle sought to reassure the public that the Government deals with similar 'infrastructure issues' relating to embassies 'all the time'. 'These issues will be taken care of assiduously in the planning process,' he told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme. He added: 'These are the issues that we talk about as two countries all the time… we're in the Five Eyes agreement, America and Britain share intelligence… If people raise security issues even though it relates to planning, then I'm sure we will have a fulsome response for them. 'But look, the key thing is these are issues which are quite routinised in the way that we deal with the security of our country.' A senior US official had told the Sunday Times: 'The United States is deeply concerned about providing China with potential access to the sensitive communications of one of our closest allies.' The matter is believed to have been discussed during US-UK trade talks, with diplomats saying the Trump administration would have reservations about intelligence sharing with the UK if the building went ahead. More than a thousand demonstrators gathered earlier this year for a rally against the proposed Chinese 'super-embassy' because of concerns about its potential proximity to Canary Wharf and the City of London. The redevelopment plans at the former site of the Royal Mint were 'called in' last year, which means the Government will make the final decision following a report from the Planning Inspectorate. The plan was initially refused by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022.
Glasgow Times
42 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
UK will handle US security concerns over new Chinese embassy plan, says Kyle
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle indicated the UK would offer a 'fulsome response' to any concerns raised by allies amid suggestions that US opposition could undermine transatlantic trade negotiations. Mr Kyle sought to reassure the public that the Government deals with similar 'infrastructure issues' relating to embassies 'all the time'. 'These issues will be taken care of assiduously in the planning process,' he told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme. He added: 'These are the issues that we talk about as two countries all the time… we're in the Five Eyes agreement, America and Britain share intelligence… If people raise security issues even though it relates to planning, then I'm sure we will have a fulsome response for them. 'But look, the key thing is these are issues which are quite routinised in the way that we deal with the security of our country.' A senior US official had told the Sunday Times: 'The United States is deeply concerned about providing China with potential access to the sensitive communications of one of our closest allies.' The matter is believed to have been discussed during US-UK trade talks, with diplomats saying the Trump administration would have reservations about intelligence sharing with the UK if the building went ahead. More than a thousand demonstrators gathered earlier this year for a rally against the proposed Chinese 'super-embassy' because of concerns about its potential proximity to Canary Wharf and the City of London. The redevelopment plans at the former site of the Royal Mint were 'called in' last year, which means the Government will make the final decision following a report from the Planning Inspectorate. The plan was initially refused by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Elon Musk's dad says he's 'not a good politician' and Trump row 'was a mistake'
Elon Musk's dad Errol claimed his son was prepared to admit he had 'made a mistake' after lashing out against US President Donald Trump during their public fallout Elon Musk's father has arrived in Moscow to speak at a forum organised by Vladimir Putin 's closest aides. This comes after key Kremlin associates offered political asylum to his son - the world 's richest man - in the wake of his spectacular bust-up with Donald Trump. Errol Musk, 79, said there was PTSD in the White House, while also likening the ugly breakup to a marriage going wrong. He told Putin-controlled media: 'So at the moment, Elon is inclined to say that he's made a mistake.' Musk Snr added: 'Trump will prevail. He's the president, he was elected as the president. ' Elon made a mistake, I think, but he's tired, he's stressed. Five months of continuous stress, continuous, continuous stress, stress, stress. 'And then in the end, it's just him and Trump left... They still don't know what to do, so they fight with each other until they can come to normal conditions.' Suggesting his son was out of his depth in Washington's febrile politics, he told pro-Putin media outlet Izvestia: "They've been under a lot of stress for five months, a lot of stress for five months." Errol - a South African businessman - also predicted: "It's just a small thing. It'll be over tomorrow." And speaking to Tsargrad TV - owned by mogul Konstantin Malofeev, seen as linked to Russian military intelligence - Errol said: 'Elon with Trump and the new administration, they took over a somewhat broken United States, broken by the previous administration, with intent, evil intent. 'They've had five months at least of intense repair work, removing all the spurious opposition, all the crazies and so on. They've been under a lot of stress. 'Recently a new bill was put out - and Elon is still in the 'Let's get everything right' mode. He said, 'No, we must not include in such a bill more of this Democrat stupid schemes and money for them, it's not right'. 'But unfortunately, he doesn't realise that in order to get their votes in the Senate and the Congress, Trump has to do that... In order to take something, you have to give. 'So they had an argument about that, and as they are all suffering from a bit of PTSD, a post-traumatic stress disorder over the last few months, they started hitting out at each other. They are the only two people left in the arena, Trump and Elon, and all they were used to was fighting with the opposition 'So they took to each other, which is understandable. It happens in marriages, it happens in partnerships, it happens a lot. And people have to understand that at the moment, Elon is having second thoughts. 'He's not a great politician, he is still learning, he's a great tech innovator and so forth. But his politics is, as I've said before, is a swimming pool with no bottom, it's a swimming pool with no sides." Errol is set to speak at the Future Forum 2050, organised by Malofeev as well as Putin ideologist Alexander Dugin. A key speaker is Kremlin veteran foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, a war hardliner. Earlier Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev - formerly Russian president and prime minister - offered to mediate in the Trump-Musk row. He said on X: 'We are ready to facilitate the conclusion of a peace deal between D and E for a reasonable fee and to accept Starlink shares as payment. Don't fight, guys!' He also offered asylum to Musk. 'Elon @elonmusk, don't be upset! You are respected in Russia. If you encounter insurmountable problems in the US, come to us and become one of us,' he said. Senior lawmaker Dmitry Novikov also told state media Russia could offer asylum to Musk 'if he needs it'.
