2023 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan

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]

• Cross-Strait relations