China’s conflict video games round Taiwan through the years

The People’s Republic of China has claimed Taiwan by means of its “one China” coverage because the Chinese civil conflict pressured the defeated Republic of China authorities to flee to the island in 1949, and has vowed to deliver Taiwan beneath Beijing’s rule, by pressure if mandatory.

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The authorities in Taiwan strongly rejects the Chinese sovereignty claims, saying it’s already an impartial nation referred to as the Republic of China, and that solely its individuals can determine their future.

Here are some details on army tensions between China and Taiwan and former Chinese army workouts.

– China and Taiwan have almost gone to conflict a number of occasions since 1949. The two sides final joined battle on a big scale in 1958, when Chinese forces bombed the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen and Matsu islands for greater than a month, alongside naval and air fight.

– Ahead of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996, China carried out missile assessments in waters near the island, hoping to stop individuals voting for Lee Teng-hui, whom China suspected of harbouring pro-independence views. Lee received convincingly.

A person walks previous Taiwan flags on a road in Taipei, Taiwan December 29, 2025. REUTERS/Tsai Hsin-Han Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

– In August 2022, livid at a go to to Taipei by then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, China held a number of days of conflict video games round Taiwan, together with launches of ballistic missiles, a few of which flew over Taipei, and simulated sea and air assaults in surrounding skies and waters.

– In April 2023, China held three days of drills round Taiwan, saying that they had examined built-in army capabilities beneath fight circumstances, having practised precision strikes and blockading the island. Those drills got here after Taiwan’s then-President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a gathering in Los Angeles with Kevin McCarthy, who on the time was U.S. House speaker.

– In August 2023, China launched army drills round Taiwan as a “serious warning” to “separatists” in an indignant however broadly anticipated response to then-Vice President Lai’s go to to the United States.

– In May 2024, shortly after Lai’s inauguration as president, China launched “punishment” drills dubbed “Joint Sword – 2024A” round Taiwan in what it mentioned was a response to “separatist acts”, sending up closely armed warplanes and staging mock assaults.

– In October 2024, China held at some point of “Joint Sword – 2024B” conflict video games round Taiwan in response to a nationwide day speech by Lai. Taiwan mentioned China used a report variety of army plane in these workouts.

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