Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
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Third Taiwan Strait Crisis 台灣海峽飛彈危機 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Chinese Civil War | |||||||
Taiwan Strait | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Republic of China United States (naval support) | People's Republic of China | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lee Teng-hui Lien Chan Chiang Chung-ling Tang Fei Wu Shih-wen Tang Yao-ming Nelson Ku Huang Hsien-jung Wang Jo-yu Bill Clinton John Shalikashvili Archie Clemins |
Jiang Zemin Li Peng Liu Huaqing Zhang Zhen Zhang Lianzhong Chi Haotian Zhang Wannian Fu Quanyou | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
ROC Armed Forces United States Navy | People's Liberation Army | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
, etc. | DF-15, J-7 Fishbed, J-8 Finback, etc. |
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
Lee's 1995 visit to Cornell
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
PRC military response
The United States had not prepared the People's Republic of China for its policy reversal in granting a visa[3]: 224 and CCP general secretary Jiang Zemin was furious over the U.S.'s policy reversal. On 7 July 1995, PRC responded, the Xinhua News Agency announced missile tests would be conducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and argued that this attitude would endanger the peace and safety of the region (Mainlander refers to it as the fourth Taiwan strait crisis[4]). At the same time, the PRC mobilized forces in Fujian. In the later part of July and early August, numerous commentaries were published by Xinhua and the People's Daily condemning Lee and his cross-strait policies.[citation needed]
Another set of missile firings, accompanied by live ammunition exercises, occurred from 15 to 25 August 1995. Naval exercises in August were followed by highly publicized amphibious assault exercises in November.[citation needed]
Initial U.S. military response
The United States responded by sending two aircraft carrier groups to the vicinity of Taiwan.
1996 tensions and Taiwan election
Beijing intended to send a message to the Taiwanese electorate that voting for Lee Teng-hui in the
On 8 March 1996, also a presidential election year in the U.S., President Clinton announced that the USS Independence CV-62 and her Carrier Battlegroup (Carrier Group Five),[8] returning to Japan from its visit to the Philippines, would deploy to international waters near Taiwan.[9] 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.[10]
On the following day, the PRC announced
Aftermath
Sending two carrier battle groups showed not only a symbolic gesture towards the ROC, but a readiness to fight on the part of the U.S. The ROC government and Democratic Progressive Party welcomed America's support, but staunch unificationist presidential candidate Lin Yang-kang and the PRC decried "foreign intervention."
Jiang ordered the People's Liberation Army to begin a ten-year modernization program.
The PRC's attempts at intimidation were counterproductive. Arousing more anger than fear, it boosted Lee by 5% in the polls, earning him a majority as opposed to a mere plurality.
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.[
U.S. order of battle (March 1996 – May 1996)
U.S. 7th Fleet
- Carrier Group 5 - Independence CVBG - (East China Sea)
- USS Independence CV-62 (Forrestal Class Carrier)
- Carrier Air Wing 5 - NF
- VF-154 Black Knights - F-14A Tomcat (TARPS equipped)
- VFA-192 Golden Dragons - F/A-18C Hornet
- VFA-195 Dambusters - F/A-18C Hornet
- VA-115 Eagles - A-6E SWIP Intruder
- VAQ-136 Gauntlets - EA-6B Prowler
- VS-21 Red Tails - S-3B Viking
- VAW-115 Liberty Bells - E-2C Hawkeye
- ES-3A Shadow
- HS-14 Chargers - SH-60F Oceanhawk/HH-60H Rescuehawk
- Carrier Air Wing 5 - NF
- USS Bunker Hill CG-52 (Ticonderoga Class VLS Cruiser) - (Detached from the Battlegroup southeast of the R.O.C.)[20]
- USS Hewitt DD-966 (Spruance Class VLS Destroyer)[20]
- USS O'Brien DD-975 (Spruance Class VLS Destroyer)[20]
- USS McClusky FFG-41 (Oliver H. Perry Class Frigate)* - After May 10, 1996*[21]
- USS Independence CV-62 (Forrestal Class Carrier)
- Carrier Group 7 - Nimitz CVBG - (Taiwan Strait)
- USS Nimitz CVN-68 (Nimitz Class Carrier)
- Carrier Air Wing 9 - NG
- VF-24 Fighting Renegades - F-14A Tomcat
- VF-211 Checkmates - F-14A Tomcat (TARPS equipped)[22]
- VFA-146 Blue Diamonds - F/A-18C (Night Attack) Hornet
- VFA-147 Argonauts - F/A-18C (Night Attack) Hornet
- VA-165 Boomers - A-6E SWIP Intruder
- VAQ-138 Yellow Jackets - EA-6B Prowler
- VS-33 Screwbirds - S-3B Viking
- VAW-112 Golden Hawks - E-2C Hawkeye
- VQ-5 Sea Shadows Det.C - ES-3A Shadow
- HS-8 Eightballers - SH-60F Oceanhawk/HH-60H Rescuehawk
- Carrier Air Wing 9 - NG
- USS Port Royal CG-73 (Ticonderoga Class VLS Cruiser)[citation needed]
- USS Oldendorf DD-972 (Spruance Class VLS Destroyer)[23]
- USS Callaghan DD-994 (Kidd Class Destroyer)[24]
- USS Ford FFG-54 (Oliver H. Perry Class Frigate)[25]
- Amphibious Squadron 11 - Belleau Wood ARG[26][27] - (Taiwan Strait)
- USS Belleau Wood LHA-3 (Tarawa Class Amphibious Assault Ship)
- 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
- VMA-311 Tomcats Det. - AV-8B Harrier II
- HMLA Det. - AH-1W Super Cobra/UH-1N Twin Huey
- HMH-466 Wolfpack Det. - CH-53E Super Stallion
- HMM-265 Dragons - CH-46E Sea Knight
- 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit
- USS Belleau Wood LHA-3 (Tarawa Class Amphibious Assault Ship)
Subsequent prosecutions
In 1999,
Unofficial forewarning
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.[29]
See also
- Political status of Taiwan
- Battle of Guningtou
- First Taiwan Strait Crisis
- Second Taiwan Strait Crisis
- Taiwan Relations Act
- List of battles in Kinmen
- Chinese Civil War
- Liu Liankun
- 2022 United States congressional delegation visit to Taiwan
- 2022 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan
References
- ^ a b "Taiwan's President Speaks at Cornell Reunion Weekend". Cornell University. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- Bennett Johnston, Jr.(D-LA) was the lone "nay" voter
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5381-8725-8.
- ^ 回顾惊心动魄的5次台海危机 [A review of the five thrilling Taiwan Strait crises]. taiwan.cn. China Taiwan Net. china.com. 26 February 2008. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018.
- ^ Roper, John C. (26 January 1996). "U.S. aircraft carrier in Asia 'routine'". UPI. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ISBN 978-1-59884-415-3. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Navy ships to sail near Taiwan". CNN. 10 March 1996. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ USS Independence (CV-62) WestPac Cruise Book 1996. Walsworth Publishing Company. 1996.
- YouTube
- ^ Gellman, Barton (21 June 1998). "U.S. AND CHINA NEARLY CAME TO BLOWS IN '96". The Washington Post.
- ^ USS Nimitz CVN-68 WestPac Cruise Book 1994-96. United States Navy. 1996.
- ISBN 978-0-8108-8890-6.
- ISBN 978-0-275-96207-4.
- ^ Baron, James (18 August 2020). "The Glorious Contradictions of Lee Teng-hui". The Diplomat. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Report: China expected to attack island". The Times-News. 25 February 1996. p. C6.
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.
- ^ Xin, Qiang (2009). "迈向"准军事同盟":美台安全合作的深化与升级(1995~2008)" [Moving toward a "Quasi-Military Alliance": The Deepening and Upgrading of US–Taiwan Security Cooperation (1995–2008)]. American Studies Quarterly (in Chinese) (4). Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ a b 硝烟滚滚震慑"台独"——东南沿海演习始末(下) [Gunpowder smoke deters "Taiwanese independence" — the beginning and end of the southeast coastal exercise (part 2)] (in Chinese). China Central Television. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ 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 [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]. people.com.cn (in Chinese). 19 March 2009. Archived from the original on 30 June 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ "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" [18 March 1996: The Chinese People's Liberation Army conducts joint land, sea and air exercises in the Taiwan Strait]. people.com.cn (in Chinese). 16 March 2009. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ a b c USS Bunker Hill CG-52 Command Operations Report 1996 (PDF). United States Navy. 1996.
- ^ USS McClusky FFG-41 Command Operations Report - 1996 (PDF). United States Navy. 1996.
- ^ "VF-211 Squadron History". www.topedge.com. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "CNN - Ships of the U.S. Taiwan deployment - Mar. 13, 1996". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ "Callaghan II (DDG-994)". public2.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ USS Ford FFG-54 - Command Operations Report 1996 (PDF). United States Navy. 1996.
- ^ US Marines Corps Operational Summary February 1996 (PDF). United States Marine Corps. 1996.
- ^ US Marines Corps Operational Summary April 1996 (PDF). United States Marine Corps. 1996.
- ^ Lim, Benjamin Kang (14 September 1999). "China executes two for spying for Taiwan". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
- ISBN 978-4819113885.
Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-471-98677-5.
- ISBN 978-0-8157-1288-6.
- ISBN 978-1-57906-000-8. Archived(PDF) from the original on 8 August 2022.
- Carpenter, Ted Galen (2005). America's Coming War with China: A Collision Course over Taiwan. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1-4039-6841-1.
- Cole, Bernard D. (2006). Taiwan's Security: History and Prospects. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-36581-3.
- Copper, John F. (2006). Playing with Fire: The Looming War with China over Taiwan. Praeger Security International. ISBN 0-275-98888-0.
- FAS; NRDC (November 2006). Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-8157-3146-7.
- S2CID 57560261.—This article traces in detail the course of the crisis and analyzes the state of Sino-American relations both before and after the crisis.
- Scobell, Andrew (1999). "Show of Force: The PLA and the 1995–1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis" (PDF). Shorenstein APARC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-19-530609-5.
- Thies, Wallace J.; Bratton, Patrick C. (2004). "When Governments Collide in the Taiwan Strait". Journal of Strategic Studies. 27 (4): 556–584. S2CID 154467802.
- ISBN 0-415-40785-0.
- ISBN 0-231-13564-5.
- Moore, Gregory J. (2007). "The Roles of Misperceptions and Perceptual Gaps in the Taiwan Strait Crisis of 1995–1996". In Hua, Shiping; Guo, Sujian (eds.). China in the Twenty-First Century: Challenges and Opportunities. New York: ISBN 978-1-4039-7975-9.
External links