Skip to main content

Headline Roundup April 10th, 2023

China Simulates Precision Strikes, Blockades on Taiwan

Summary from the AllSides News Team

China finished three days of large-scale military drills near Taiwan on Monday, including simulating a shipping blockade and precision strikes on the island.

The Details: Along with 11 warships, China sent dozens of fighter jets near the island, many of which entered Taiwan's self-declared Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Taiwan condemned the drills.

For Context: The drills follow a meeting between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, which China opposed. China views Taiwan as its own; the island views itself as sovereign. The U.S. tends to recognize China's "One China Policy" while also maintaining "unofficial" ties with Taiwan's government.

Key Quotes: "The troops in the theatre are ready to fight all the time and can fight at any time, resolutely crushing any form of Taiwan independence separatism and foreign interference," China's military said in a statement. "Most normal people probably aren't afraid, with the main reason being that everyone thinks that China will certainly not start a war," a retired Taiwanese solider told Reuters (Center bias).

How the Media Covered it: China's drills were a top story across the political spectrum on Monday. 

Featured Coverage of this Story

China ends Taiwan drills after practising blockades, precision strikes
China ends Taiwan drills after practising blockades, precision strikes

Defense Ministry of Japan/HANDOUT via REUTERS

News

China ended three days of military drills around Taiwan on Monday saying they had tested integrated military capabilities under actual combat conditions, having practised precision strikes and blockading the island that Beijing views as its own.

Beijing announced the drills on Saturday, after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring the democratically-governed island under Beijing's control. Taiwan's government strongly disputes China's claims and has denounced the drills.

The...

Open on Reuters
Chinese military drills near Taiwan continue for third day with largest force yet: 70 warplanes, 11 ships
News

China sent nearly a dozen warships and 70 fighter jets toward Taiwan on Monday, prompting the Taiwanese military to ready its navy and its land-based missile defenses, its government said.

The aggressive move came after two days of similar military displays Beijing sent near the island of 22 million people – actions made in retaliation for ongoing meetings between the U.S. and Taiwanese officials. China’s Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized these meetings and has claimed the U.S. is attempting to make the island’s de facto independence permanent.

On Monday, 11 warships belonging...

Open on Fox News Digital
China sends dozens of warplanes towards Taiwan as US urges restraint amid military drills
News

China sent dozens of warplanes towards Taiwan for a second day of military drills on Sunday, launching simulated attacks in retaliation to the island’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, meeting the US House speaker during a brief visit to the US.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said it was monitoring the movements of China’s missile forces, as the US said it too was on alert.

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent 70 warplanes, including fighter jets, reconnaissance craft and refuellers, into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Sunday morning, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry. It...

Open on The Guardian

More headline roundups

More News about China on AllSides

News from the Left

News from the Center

News from the Right