Provocative Military Actions

Provocative Military Maneuvers in Areas Near China, Japan, and Taiwan

Nearly every day, China and/or the United States deploy combat ships and planes in the South China Sea and in areas near Japan and Taiwan to demonstrate resolve and intimidate their rivals. These actions include large-scale U.S. naval exercises in the South China Sea as well as recurring Chinese air and sea maneuvers in areas near Taiwan. While officials on both sides typically claim their forces are merely conducting normal training exercises, these mock combat drills — often conducted in the vicinity of opposing forces — send an unmistakable signal of hostile intent.

Whatever the circumstances, it is not unusual for ships and planes of one side to monitor the operations of the other and even, on occasion, to interfere with them. When this occurs, there is always the risk of a collision or unintended shooting incident, leading to further military action and full-scale conflict. The Committee maintains an ongoing account of these activities, with the most recent posted at the top of the list. We derive the tally from military journals and international news sources. Because some of these events may not be adequately reported, we encourage readers to send us notices of incidents we have missed (write to us at sanechinapolicy@gmail.org).

Provocative Maneuvers in 2023

As it did in the days following then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s August 2, 2022 visit to Taiwan, China has continued in 2023 to conduct near-daily deployments of combat ships and planes in the areas surrounding Taiwan. On many occasions, some of these aircraft enter Taiwan’s self-declared Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) or cross the median line in between China and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait, prompting the Taiwanese military to dispatch its fighter planes to ward off the Chinese aircraft. (Most of these incursions involve or dozen or so aircraft; our tally only includes major intrusions, involving 25 or more aircraft.) The U.S. has also continued a steady pace of naval maneuvers and “freedom of navigation operations” (FONOPs) in the South China Sea and in waters near Taiwan. Both countries have also conducted elaborate naval maneuvers in the East and South China Seas and in waters near Taiwan, often involving their aircraft carrier strike groups.

Useful Abbreviations:
AP = Associated Press
ADIZ = Air-Defense Identification Zone
FONOP = Freedom of Navigation Operations
JSDF = Japan Self-Defense Force
MOD = Ministry of Defense
n.m. = nautical miles
PLA = People’s Liberation Army (China’s military)
PLAAF = People’s Liberation Army Air Force
PLAN = People’s Liberation Army Navy
SCMP = South China Morning Post
USAF = U.S. Air Force
USN = U.S. Navy
USNI = U.S. Naval Institute

Dec. 8, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 26 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 15 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Dec. 6, 2023: The Chinese military said it scrambled jet fighters to warn away a USN P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft as it conducted a surveillance flight over the Taiwan Strait, a body of water claimed by Beijing as part of its sovereign territory but said by the U.S. to constitute international waters. "The aircraft's transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” read a statement from the USN’s 7th Fleet. Source: Reuters, Dec. 6, 2023

Dec. 4, 2023: The Chinese military said that an American naval vessel, the littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords, has “illegally intruded” into Chinese-claimed waters near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, a tiny atoll claimed by both China and the Philippines. According to a statement from the PLA’s Southern Theater, a Chinese naval force was mobilized to track the Giffords during the operation. In response, the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet said the ship “was conducting routine operations in international waters ... consistent with international law.” Source: AP, Dec. 4, 2023

Nov. 23, 2023: The USN guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper conducted a freedom-of-navigation mission near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, a cluster of atolls and islets claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. According to a statement released by the U.S. 7th Fleet, “All three claimants require either permission or advance notification before a military vessel or warship engages in "innocent passage" through their territorial sea, in violation of international law… By engaging in innocent passage without giving prior notification to or asking permission from any of the claimants, the United States challenged these unlawful restrictions imposed by the PRC, Taiwan, and Vietnam.” Source: USN 7th Fleet, Nov. 27, 2023

Nov. 23, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 25 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 12 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Nov. 21-23, 2023: The U.S. and Philippines navies conducted joint naval and aerial patrols in areas of the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines. The joint patrols were conducted in areas of the West Philippine Sea, an area of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Participating USN vessels included the littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords and replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson; a USN P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft also participated. According to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, the joint patrols were aimed to “enhance regional security and foster a seamless partnership with the United States in safeguarding our shared interests.” Source: USNI, Nov. 21, 2023

Nov. 3, 2023: The USN guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey sailed near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, a cluster of atolls and islets claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. According to a statement released by the USN 7th Fleet, “this freedom of navigation operation (“FONOP”) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging restrictions on innocent passage imposed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan, and Vietnam.” Source: USNI, Nov. 3, 2023

Nov. 3, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 39 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 20 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Nov. 1, 2023: Naval vessels belonging to the U.S. and Canada – the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta and Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa – conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait while being tailed by Chinese planes and warships. The Strait, situated between the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan, is claimed by Beijing as part of its sovereign territory but said by the U.S. to constitute international waters. According to a statement released by the U.S. 7th Fleet, “the ships transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state. The transit was unremarkable, unprovocative, and consistent with international law.” Source: USNI, Nov. 2, 2023

Nov. 1, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 43 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 37 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Oct. 27, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 35 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 23 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Oct. 23, 2023: USN vessels joined with others from Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand in conducting naval drills in the South China Seas. The maneuvers, known as Exercise Noble Caribou, consisted of tactical, maneuvering and communication drills. Participating vessels included the USN destroyer USS Rafael Peralta plus the destroyers JS Akenono and HMAS Brisbane and frigates HMCS Ottawa and HMNZS Te Mana. Source: USNI, Oct. 25, 2023

Oct. 20, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 26 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 18 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Oct. 16-18: The Reagan Carrier Strike Group, comprised of carrier USS Ronald Reagan, cruisers USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls and destroyer USS Shoup, conducted tactical exercises in the East China Sea along with a Japanese frigate the JS Noshiro. “We will continue cooperating strongly with the U.S. Navy while maintaining a posture to respond to any contingency at any time in order to contribute to regional peace and stability,” said the Noshiro’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Masafumi Watanabe. Source: USNI, Oct. 18, 2023

Oct. 16-18: The USN’s guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey and littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords carried out tactical drills in the South China Sea with the Japanese destroyer JS Akebono. “Through the exercise, we improved our tactical capabilities and interoperability with the U.S. Navy,” said Cmdr. Hisato Togawa, commanding officer of Akebono, said in a news release. Source: USNI, Oct. 18, 2023

Oct. 4, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 29 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 16 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Sept. 27, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 32 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 16 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Sept. 22, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 32 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 24 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Sept. 19, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 55 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 27 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Sept. 18, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that a total of 103 PLAAF aircraft conducted battle maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan, a one-day record for such provocative actions. Of these, 40 aircraft, including 36 fighter planes, entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan. On the same day, the PLAN also dispatched 9 warships into waters near Taiwan. Source: SCMP, Sept. 18, 2023

Sept. 11-15: The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its support vessels conducted naval maneuvers in the Bashi Channel (separating southern Taiwan and northern Philippines) and near the southern tip of Taiwan, including aircraft takeoff and landing drills. The exercise was interpreted by Taiwanese analysts as preparation for possible naval combat between China and the U.S. during a future conflict over Taiwan. Source: SCMP, Sept. 18, 2023

Sept. 14, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 68 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 40 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Sept. 13, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 27 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 9 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Sept. 11, 2023: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 26 PLAAF aircraft conducted combat maneuvers in the airspace surrounding Taiwan; of these, 11 aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating China from Taiwan.

Sept. 9, 2023: Naval vessels belonging to the U.S. and Canada – the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa – conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait, a body of water separating mainland China from Taiwan that is claimed by Beijing as part of its sovereign territory but said by the U.S. to constitute international waters. According to a statement from the U.S. 7th Fleet, “Ralph Johnson and Ottawa’s bilateral transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific.” Source: USNI, Sept. 9, 2023

July 22-Aug. 4, 2023: A large assortment of U.S. air and naval forces joined with Australian forces plus those of a dozen other countries (including Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, and the UK) in Exercise Talisman Sabre, a major test of joint combat capabilities in the Pacific. A total of 30,000 troops participated in the exercise, along with dozens of warships and support vessels, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. A major goal of the exercise, officials indicated, was to test the ability of the U.S., Australia, and Japan to come to the defense of their allies in the Indo-Pacific region if attacked by China. “Our job and what we spend our time on every day is reassuring our allies and partners,” said Rear Adm. Chris Stone, commander of Task Force 76/3. “We are training…every day to defend this ship, this strike group, whatever it may be. We hope it doesn’t come to that…. But we’re prepared, if it comes to conflict, to defend ourselves and defend the force against a range of threats.” Source: USNI News, Aug. 4, 2023

>> As part of Talisman Sabre, amphibious assault forces from Australia, Japan, the U.S. and some of those other countries engaged in a major amphibious assault operation at Stanage Bay, Queensland. The U.S. contingent participating in this phase of Talisman Sabre included the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), consisting of amphibious assault ship USS America and landing platform docks USS New Orleans and USS Green Bay, along with the attached 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Chinese naval vessels reportedly observed the operation from outside Australia’s territorial waters. Sources: USNI News, July 4, 2023, July 21, 2023

July 20-23, 2023: The Chinese and Russian navies conducted joint naval combat maneuvers in the Sea of Japan dubbed Northern/Interaction-2023. The goal of the exercise was both to strengthen Sino-Russian military cooperation and to practice anti-air, anti-ship, and anti-submarine operations. “The exercises marked a major China-Russia joint combat operation in safeguarding the security of strategic maritime routes, as well as an important move in implementing the two militaries' sea-air integrated joint capabilities," said Rear Admiral Qiu Wensheng of the PLAN, the commander of the Northern/Interaction-2023 exercise. According to official releases, Chinese vessels committed to the exercise included the Type 052D guided-missile destroyers Qiqihar and Guiyang, the Type 054A guided-missile frigates Zaozhuang and Rizhao, and the Type 903 replenishment ship Taihu; Russians ships included the large anti-submarine ships Admiral Tribunts and Admiral Panteleev and the corvettes Gremyashy and Aldar Tsydenzhapov. Source: Global Times, July 24, 2023

July 13, 2023: A USN P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol flew through the Taiwan Strait in what the Navy claimed was an assertion of continued U.S. determination to operations in the area. “The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement. “The United States military flies, sails and operates anywhere international law allows.” Source: USNI, July 13, 2023

July 4, 2023: The USN aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its escort ships, the cruisers USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls conducted military maneuvers in the South China Sea following a port visit to Danang, Vietnam. As part of the maneuvers, the Antietam and Robert Smalls conducted replenishment-at-sea maneuvers with the fleet oiler USNS Rappahannock. Source: USNI, July 4, 2023

June 3, 2023: A Chinese guided-missile destroyer, the Luyang III (PRC LY 132), swerved in front of an American missile destroyer, the USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), while it and a Canadian destroyer, HMCS Montreal, were conducting a “freedom of navigation operation” in the Taiwan Strait. In a statement, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command asserted that PRC LY 132 “executed maneuvers in an unsafe manner,” claiming the Chinese vessel “overtook Chung-Hoon on [its] port side and crossed [its] bow at 150 yards,” forcing the U.S. ship to reduce speed to avert a possible collision. “The LY 132’s closest point of approach was 150 yards and its actions violated the maritime ‘Rules of the Road’ of safe passage in international waters.” Source: US Indo-Pacific Command, June 3, 2023

>> Speaking to reporters at the White House on June 5, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the June 3 was part of “a growing aggressiveness” by China that “we’re dealing with, and we’re prepared to address it.” Chinese officials blamed the U.S. for the June 3 incident, saying the U.S. should cease its provocative maneuvers in China’s backyard. “The best way is for the countries, especially the naval vessels and fighter jets of countries, not to do closing actions around other countries’ territories,” said Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu at the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 4 through an interpreter. “What’s the point of going there? In China we always say, ‘Mind your own business.’” Source: WashPo, June 5, 2023

May 2023: The Taiwanese MOD reported that at least some PLA ships and aircraft conducted maneuvers in the air- and sea-space surrounding Taiwan every day in May. The number of PLAN ship incursions ranged from 3 to 11, with 5 the daily average; the number of PLAAF aircraft incursions ranged from 1 to 33, with 12 the daily average. Almost daily, some planes from the PLAAF entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait into the Taiwanese side; on average, these incursions involved 4 aircraft per event. In general, PLAN and PLAAF activity was less intense in May than in April, when China protested the April 5 meeting in California between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

May 26, 2023: According to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, a Chinese J-16 fighter plane flew directly in from of a USAF RC-135 reconnaissance plane while it was conducting routine operations over the South China Sea. “[The] J-16 fighter pilot performed an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver during the intercept of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft,” the command asserted in a May 30 statement. “The PRC pilot flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the U.S. aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence.” According to the command, “the RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law” when the incident occurred. Source: Indo-Pacific Command, May 30, 2023

April 2023: The Taiwanese MOD reported that at least some PLA ships and aircraft conducted maneuvers in the air- and sea-space surrounding Taiwan on every day in April. The number of PLAN ship incursions ranged from 3 to 12, with 5 the daily average; the number of PLAAF aircraft incursions ranged from 2 to 91, with 19 the daily average. Major incursions occurred on April 8, 9, and 10, following the April 5 meeting in California between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, with 71, 70, and 91 aircraft incursions reported on April 8, 9, and 10 respectively. Almost daily, some planes from the PLAAF entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait into the Taiwanese side; on average, these incursions involved 9 aircraft per event.

April 28, 2023: A USN P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane flew over the Taiwan Strait, causing the PLA to scramble its fighter jets to monitor the Poseidon’s flight. the Navy reported in a statement. “The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Navy said in a statement announcing the flight. “The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows including within the Taiwan Strait.” Chinese Col. Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, denounced the U.S. move. “In the recent period, U.S. warships and planes have frequently carried out provocative actions, fully proving that the U.S. is a disruptor of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and a creator of security risks in the Taiwan Strait,” Shi said in a statement. Source: USNI, April 28, 2023

April 24, 2023: The PLAN’s Shandong Carrier Strike Group (CSG), consisting of the carrier CNS Shandong, the cruiser CNS Yan’an, the destroyers CNS Jiaozuo and CNS Changsha, and the frigates CNS Liuzhou and Xuchang, commenced combat exercises in the South China Sea on this date. According to JSDF officials, the Shandong conducted ten J-15 fighter launches on April 24, prompting the JSDF to scramble fighter aircraft. The Shandong CSG was being shadowed by the JSDF destroyer Akebono (DD-108). Source: USNI, April 24, 2023

April 16-17, 2023: The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), composed up of USS Makin Island amphibious assault ship and the USS Anchorage and USS John P. Murtha amphibious landing dock, along with the embarked Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, was operating in waters off the Philippines as part of the U.S.-Philippines Balikatan exercise that started on April 11. The exercise includes more than 17,500 troops from several countries. On April 16, Makin Island exercised in the Sulu Sea off the coast of Palawan with Philippine Navy ships. Source: USNI, April 17, 2023

April 16, 2023: The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), consisting of the USS Nimitz, the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and the guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur and USS Wayne E. Meyer conducted combat exercises in the South China Sea. According to a USN release, the CSG conducted “training among surface, air, and undersea assets, as well as flight operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft.” “Our presence in the region reinforces open sea lines of communication and the rules-based international order,” said Rear Adm. Christopher Sweeney, commander, CSG 11. Our commitment to our allies and partners in the region remains ironclad as we promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.” Source: DVIDS, April 16, 2023

April 16, 2023: The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Milius conducted a FONOP transit of the Taiwan Strait, according to a USN statement. “The ship transited through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State,” the Navy statement read. “The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows.” China, however, claims that the Strait lies within its territorial waters and that such transits require its permission. “The troops of the PLA Southern Theater Command will always stay on high alert and resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty and security and regional peace and stability,” read a statement from Army Senior Col. Shi Yi. Source: USNI, April 16, 2023

April 11-28, 2023: Approximately 17,600 U.S. and Filipino troops participated in Exercise Balikatan (Tagalog for “should-to-shoulder”), the largest iteration ever of this annual joint exercise. The 2023 version of Balikatan aimed to enhance bilateral capabilities in the areas of maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban and aviation operations, cyber defense, counterterrorism, and disaster relief preparedness. A major feature of the exercise was a live-fire maritime defense operation on April 26 involving multiple strikes on a mock enemy warship (in reality, a decommissioned Philippine Navy corvette), which was hit and sunk. Attacking forces U.S. and Philippine artillery, High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, Philippine Air Force FA-50 Golden Eagle fighter-attack aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcons, U.S. Marine F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, and a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command AC-130 Spectre gunship. “This training increased the exercise’s realism and complexity, a key priority shared between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military,” said Lt. Gen. William Jurney, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and the U.S. director for the exercise. “Together we are strengthening our capabilities in full-spectrum military operations across all domains.” Sources: BBC, April 11, 2023; USMC, April 27, 2023

April 10-16, 2023: The PLAN’s Shandong Carrier Strike Group (CSG), consisting of the carrier CNS Shandong, the cruiser CNS Yan’an, the destroyer CNS Jiaozuo and the frigates CNS Liuzhou and Xuchang conducted combat operations in areas of the Philippines Sea south of Taiwan over this period. According to the JSDF, the CSG carried out 140 launches and recoveries of its J-15 fighters between April 10 and 16. JSDF fighter aircraft scrambled in response to the J-15 launches and Japanese destroyers JS Sazanami and JS Asagiri shadowed the Shandong CSG. Source: USNI, April 17, 2023

April 9, 2023: The guided-missile destroyer USS Milius conducted a FONOP mission in the vicinity of a Chinese-claimed island in the South China Sea. According to the USN’s 7th Fleet, the Milius sailed within 12 n.m. of Mischief Reef in the Spratly islands. Claiming that Mischief Reef in its natural state was submerged during high tide (before being enlarged by China through artificial land reclamation), and thus cannot be used to claim an encircling territorial under international law, the Navy insisted that the Milius had every right to sail that close to the reef unimpeded. Operations like these “demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows…regardless of current events,” it declared. Source: USN, April 9, 2023

April 8-10, 2023: While the PLA was conducting air and naval maneuvers in the air-and sea-space around Taiwan (see entry below), the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), consisting of the USS Nimitz, the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and the guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur and USS Wayne E. Meyer conducted combat exercises in the Philippines Sea, in areas to the southwest of Taiwan. “The Nimitz carrier strike group and a Marine Amphibious Readiness Group continue to conduct routine operations in the Philippine Sea and will remain in the region,” Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, told reporters on April 10. Source: USNI, April 10, 2023

April 8-10, 2023: The PLA conducted three days of combat exercises in the air- and sea-space surrounding Taiwan in response to the meeting in California on April 5 between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The exercises included large numbers of PLA ships and planes in what was described by Chinese media as a simulated attack on Taiwan and foreign forces (presumably U.S. and Japanese) sent to its aid. "Under the unified command of the theatre joint operations command center, multiple types of units carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan island and the surrounding sea areas, and continue to maintain an offensive posture around the island," said Chinese state television on April 9. In addition to the air and ship maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait area, the PLA also conducted naval exercises to the south and east of Taiwan featuring simulated combat strikes on that island by planes flying off the PLAN’s Shandong aircraft carrier. According to Chinese military officials, combat planes from the Shandong “carried out multiple waves of simulated strikes on important targets” in Taiwan and on enemy forces deployed to the area on Taiwan’s behalf. Sources: Reuters, April 9, 2023, BBC, April 9, 2023

>> According to the Taiwanese MOD, the PLA deployed 9 warships and 71 planes on April 8, 11 ships and 70 planes on April 9, and 12 ships and 91 planes on April 10 – representing the largest such deployments ever recorded by the MOD. All told, the PLAAF deployed 232 aircraft over the three-day period, as compared to the 167 such deployments following the visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August 2022, then a record number. Many of these planes – at least 45 on April 8, 35 on April 9, and 54 on April 10 – entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed over into the Taiwanese side of the median line between China and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait, the unofficial sea border between the two entities. In response, the Taiwanese scrambled their own jets, leading to near-encounters in the skies around Taiwan. Source: Guardian, April 11, 2023

March 24, 2023: For the second day in a row, as USN guided-missile destroyer, the USS Milius, conducted a FONOP in the vicinity of Chinese-claimed islands in the South China Sea, provoking a harsh reaction from Beijing. On March 24, China's MOD said it yet again had to monitor and drive away the Milius from its territorial waters near the Paracel Islands. "We sternly demand the U.S. to immediately stop such provocative acts, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of unforeseen incidents," an MOD statement declared. In response, the USN insisted the destroyer was asserting its right traverse the area in repudiation of China’s claims to sovereignty over the islands. “Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce," the USN 7th Fleet said in a statement. Source: Reuters, March 24, 2023, USN, March 24, 2023

March 23, 2023: A USN guided-missile destroyer, the USS Milius, conducted a FRONOP in waters near the Chinese-claimed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, provoking a harsh reaction from the PLA and claims that it had driven off the U.S. vessel. The PLA will “take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security and peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Tian Junli, a spokesman for its Southern Theater Command. In response, the USN stated that Milius was conducted a legitimate operation and was not driven off by Chinese forces. "The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows," a statement from the Navy’s 7th Fleet said. Source: Reuters, March 23, 2023

March 13-14, 2023: Two USAF F-22 Raptor fighter jets from the 525th fighter squadron, based at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, joined Philippine FA-50PH multi-role fighters in joint maneuvers over the South China Sea. “This was the first time that F-22s, or any fifth-generation aircraft, have landed on and operated out of the Philippines,” said Capt. Karl Schroeder, a 525th Fighter Squadron pilot. Also notable was the fact that the Raptors landed at and operated out of Clark air base, once the USAF’s major facility in the region (until the Philippines Senate banned foreign basing arrangements) and is now accessible to U.S. aircraft only on a temporary basis, under what is known as the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) . Source: MilitaryTimes, March 21, 2023

February 2023: The Taiwanese MOD reported that at least some PLA ships and aircraft conducted maneuvers in the air- and sea-space surrounding Taiwan on every day in February. The number of PLAN ship incursions ranged from 2 to 6, with 4 the daily average; the number of PLAAF aircraft incursions ranged from 2 to 29, with 11 the daily average. Major incursions occurred on Feb. 28 (with 3 PLAN ship and 29 PLAAF aircraft incursions) and Feb. 23 (6 PLAN, 27 PLAAF). On about two-thirds of these occasions, some planes from the PLAAF entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait into the Taiwanese side; on average, these incursions involved 6 aircraft per event.

February 27, 2023: A USN P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane flew above the Taiwan Strait on these day, provoking an angry reaction from China. "The U.S. side's actions deliberately interfered with and disrupted the regional situation and endangered peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” said a statement released by the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command. The USN’s 7th Fleet said the aircraft had flown in international airspace and that the U.S. will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows, including within the Taiwan Strait. "By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” it noted in a statement. Source: Reuters, Feb. 27, 2023

February 11, 2023: The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its escort vessels, along with the 13th U.S. Marine Corps Expeditionary Unit conducted “integrated expeditionary strike force operations” in the South China Sea, according to a USN 7th Fleet statement. The Navy said the exercises involved ships, ground forces, and aircraft, but provided no further details. Along with the Nimitz, the CSG included the guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG-73), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93), and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108). Also participating in the multi-domain exercise were the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8) and amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD-23). Source: USNI News, Feb. 13, 2021

January 2023: The Taiwanese MOD reported that at least some PLA ships and aircraft conducted maneuvers in the air- and sea-space surrounding Taiwan on every day in January. The number of PLAN ship incursions ranged from 2 to 9, with 4 the daily average; the number of PLAAF aircraft incursions ranged from 1 to 57, with 12 the daily average. Major incursions occurred on Jan. 8 (with 4 PLAN ship and 57 PLAAF aircraft incursions) and Jan. 31 (9 PLAN, 31 PLAAF). On about two-thirds of these occasions, some planes from the PLAAF entered Taiwan’s ADIZ or crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait into the Taiwanese side; on average, these incursions involved 5 aircraft per event.

January 17, 2023: The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its strike group commenced combat maneuvers in the South China Sea on Jan. 17, after entering the region on Jan. 12. These maneuvers include maritime strike training, anti-submarine operations, integrated multi-domain and joint training between surface and air elements. “The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group has the capability to deliver integrated lethal and non-lethal effects from space to undersea, across every axis, and every domain,” Rear Adm. Christopher Sweeney, the strike group’s commander, said in a statement. Other members of the group included the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and the guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur, USS Paul Hamilton, USS Chung Hoon, and USS Wayne E. Meyer. Source: Navy Times, Jan. 17, 2023

January 15, 2023: The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and its support group conducted what were termed by Chinese state-owned media as “confrontational” naval maneuvers in the South China Sea. According to Global Times, the Shandong held a series of confrontational drills in the South China Sea at a time when a U.S. carrier strike group had entered the region,” referring to the entry of the USS Nimitiz and its support vessels on January 12 (see Jan. 17 entry). “The drills simulated hostile [meaning U.S.] aircraft attacks, and [Chinese] J-15 fighter jets took off from the Shandong and carried out interception training,” the paper noted. Source: Al Jazeera, Jan. 16, 2023

January 5, 2023: The U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait on Jan. 5 in what U.S. Navy officials described as a demonstration of “the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.” A spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said China firmly opposed the move and called on the U.S. to "immediately stop provoking troubles, escalating tensions and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Source: DW, Jan. 5, 2023

PROVOCATIVE MANEUVERS IN 2022

Following then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on August 2, 2020, China conducted several days of major military maneuvers in the air- and sea-space surrounding Taiwan and then maintained a steady pace of such deployments in the weeks and months that followed. In the process, Chinese aircraft deployments in these areas jumped from a few per week to a dozen or more per day, making it difficult to keep a detailed entry for each such incident. Accordingly, we now summarize these daily incursions by month. Major U.S. and Chinese deployments are, however, still listed individually.

December 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported an increase in provocative maneuvers by the Chinese People’s Liberation Navy (PLAN) and People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) around Taiwan in December. Although the daily presence of PLAN warships remained about the same, averaging 3-4 per day, the number of PLAAF aircraft averaged about 16 per day in December 2022, compared to 11 per day during the last two weeks of November, following the Biden-Xi meeting in Bali. The average would be much lower except for the major display of Chinese air and sea power on Dec. 26, when 7 PLAN warships and 71 PLAAF aircraft were sent into areas around Taiwan, with 47 of the planes crossing the median line in the Taiwan Sea between China and Taiwan.

December 26, 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported that China deployed 71 warplanes and 7 combat ships in its surrounding air- and sea-space, with 47 of the planes reportedly crossing the median line in the Taiwan Sea between China and Taiwan. Chinese authorities suggested that the massive display of force was intended as a response to increased U.S. military support for Taiwan. “This is a firm response to the current U.S.-Taiwan escalation and provocation,” declared Shi Yi, the spokesman for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command. The Biden administration criticized the display, stating that the White House is “concerned by the People’s Republic of China’s provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability.” Source: NBC News, Dec. 26, 2022

December 21-27, 2022: China and Russia held a joint naval exercise in waters of the East China Sea adjacent to Japan. The exercise, dubbed Maritime Cooperation 2022, was to include “joint missile and artillery firing against air targets, artillery firing against sea targets, and practicing joint anti-submarine actions with practical use of weapons,” according to a Russian Defense Ministry statement. “The main purpose of the exercise is to strengthen naval cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China and to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” the ministry statement added. Russian participation in the exercise included its Pacific Fleet flagship, the missile cruiser Varyag, plus a frigate and two corvettes; China contributed two destroyers, two patrol ships, a multipurpose supply ship, and a diesel submarine. Source: CNN, Dec. 19, 2022

December 21, 2022: Officials from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command claimed that a Chinese Navy J-11 fighter jet flew within 10 feet of a U.S. RC-135 reconnaissance plane while it was on patrol over the South China Sea on Dec. 21, 2022. A spokesperson for the Command insisted that the RC-135 was flying in international airspace and was forced to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision with the Chinese J-11. Placing blame for the incident on China, the spokesperson stated, “We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law.” Chinese authorities blamed the U.S. for provoking the incident, by sending its combat planes and ships into areas of the South China Sea claimed by China. “The provocative and dangerous actions of the U.S. are the root cause of maritime security issues,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing on Dec. 22, 2022. Source: NBC News, Dec. 30, 2022

November, 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported a sharp decline in the number of Chinese air maneuvers on Taiwan’s periphery following the meeting between Presidents Joe Biden of the U.S. and Xi Jinping of China in Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 14. Between Nov. 1 and Nov. 13, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) deployed an average of 22 aircraft per day into the airspace around Taiwan whereas between Nov. 14 and 30 the average was 11 PLAAF aircraft per day. There was also a sharp decline in the number of PLAAF aircraft reportedly crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait into the eastern, Taiwan-facing side of the line, from 114 such crossing in the Nov. 1-13 period to 12 crossings in the Nov. 14-30 period.

November 5, 2022: The U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait on Nov. 5. The Benfold’s transit was first announced by Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, on Nov. 18, 2022. Source: USNI, Nov. 20, 2022

October, 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported daily incursions into its ADIZ by Chinese air and naval vessels in October, involving a daily average of 3-4 naval vessels and 14 aircraft. All told, 433 aircraft participated in these maneuvers. On 22 of these occasions, Chinese aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait into the eastern, Taiwanese side. Typically, the Taiwanese responded to these incursions by sending their own ships and planes toward off the Chinese craft.

Oct. 31, 2022: The Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) reported that the U.S. Air Force will deploy up to six nuclear capable B-52 bombers at the Royal Australian Air Force’s Tindal in northern Australia. Tindal is south of the coastal city of Darwin, where thousands of U.S. Marines Corps troops have rotated for months at time under a 2012 deal struck between then-U.S. President Barack Obama and then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The ability to deploy U.S. bombers to Australia “sends a strong message to adversaries about our ability to project lethal air power,” the USAF told ABC. These moves, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian replied at a press briefing in Beijing, “have increased regional tensions, seriously undermined regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region.” Source: Air Force Times, Oct. 31, 2022

Sept. 20, 2022: A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Higgins, conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait on Sept. 20. The Higgins was accompanied by a Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate, HMCS Vancouver. “Higgins’ and Vancouver’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said a U.S. Navy press release issued in conjunction with their mission. Source: USNI, Sept. 20, 2022

Sept. 1, 2022: The Taiwanese MOD announced that eight Chinese warships and 53 PLAAF aircraft engaged in military maneuvers along the median line in the Taiwan Strait or Taiwan’s ADIZ on Sept. 1, with 23 of the aircraft – including two H-6 bombers – crossing into the ADIZ or the eastern (Taiwan-facing) side of the line. Source: Taiwan MOD, Sept. 1, 2022

Aug. 31, 2022: The Taiwanese MOD announced that seven Chinese warships and 62 PLAAF aircraft engaged in military maneuvers along Taiwan’s ADIZ on Aug. 31, with 23 of the aircraft – including nine J-16 fighters and four JH-7 fighter-bombers – crossing into the ADIZ. Source: Taiwan MOD, Aug. 31, 2022

Aug. 28, 2022: Two U.S. Navy guided missiles cruisers, the USS Antietam (CG-54) and USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait on Aug. 28. This was the first time the Navy sent two cruisers through the Strait since the Committee began its tally of Provocative Maneuvers in 2020. “The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said a statement from the Navy’s 7th Fleet. The PLA’s Eastern Command issued a stern rebuke: U.S. warships frequently flex muscles in the name of exercising freedom of navigation. This is not about keeping the region free and open. This is provocation aimed at ‘freedom of trespassing’ and it constitutes deliberate sabotage of regional peace and stability,” said command spokesman Zhao Lijian. Source: USNI, Aug. 29, 2022

Aug. 28, 2022: The U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) is conducted combat exercises in the South China Sea, along with its complement of 20 F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters. According to the U.S. Naval Institute, the full-deck LHA and onboard aircraft are testing out the Navy’s “lightning carrier” concept. Source: USNI, Aug. 29, 2022

Aug. 18, 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that six Chinese warships and 51 PLAAF aircraft engaged in military maneuvers around along the median line between China and Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait and the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ on Aug. 18, with some of the aircraft – four J-10, six J-16, and 12 Su-30 fighter planes and two H-6 bombers and one Y-8 ASW plane – flying into the eastern (Taiwan-facing) side of the median line or the ADIZ. Source: Taiwan MOD, Aug. 18, 2022

Aug. 7, 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 14 Chinese warships and 66 PLAAF aircraft – including four J-11, six J-16, and eight Su-30 fighter planes plus three H-6 bombers and one Y-8 ASW aircraft – engaged in military maneuvers along the median line between China and Taiwan on Aug. 7, with some of the aircraft crossing the line into the eastern (Taiwan-facing) side. The Taiwanese military responded with defensive, naval, and land-based missile deployments. Source: Taiwan MOD, Aug. 7, 2022

Aug. 5, 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 68 Chinese warplanes and 13 naval vessels engaged in military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait on Aug. 5, with some crossing the median line between China and Taiwan. These maneuvers were widely interpreted as a protest against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on Aug. 2nd. Source: Taiwan MOD, Aug. 5, 2022

Aug. 4, 2022: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group to remain on station in waters southeast of Taiwan for the time being, following maneuvers conducted by the strike group in that area (see July 28 entry). In addition, the Navy has moved the large-deck Marine amphibious vessel USS Tripoli (LHA-7), with up to 20 F-35B vertical landing and short takeoff stealth fighters, to waters east of Taiwan. Source: USNI, Aug. 4, 2022

Aug. 4, 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 22 PLAAF aircraft – eight J-11, four J-16, and 12 Su-30 fighter planes – engaged in flight maneuvers over the Taiwan Strait adjacent to the median line between China and Taiwan on Aug. 4. These maneuvers were widely interpreted as a protest against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on Aug. 2. Source: Taiwan MOD, Aug. 3, 2022

Aug. 4, 2022: China fired eleven Dong-Feng 15 (DF-15) ballistic missiles into waters east, south, and north of Taiwan on Aug. 4 in a demonstration of force following the Aug. 2nd visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Observers of the missile assaults suggested that they were intended to demonstrate China’s capacity to blockade Taiwan in the event of a future crisis or conflict between China and the island. Five of the missiles were said to have landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, prompting an angry protest by Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida. Source: NYT, Aug. 5, 2022

Aug. 3, 2022: The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense announced that 27 PLAAF aircraft – six J-11, five J-16, and 16 Su-30 fighter planes – engaged in flight maneuvers over the Taiwan Strait adjacent to the median line between China and Taiwan on Aug. 3. These maneuvers were widely interpreted as a protest against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on Aug. 2. Source: Taiwan MOD, Aug. 3, 2022

Aug. 2, 2022: The U.S. Navy deployed the USS Tripoli, its newest big-deck amphibious ship, with its complement of 20 F-35 stealth fighters and an onboard Marine reaction force of 1,700, in waters near Taiwan as Nancy Pelosi arrived on the island for a visit that was heavily criticized by Chinese officials. The Tripoli joined the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which was also deployed in these waters (see July 28 entry, below). Source: Times of San Diego, Aug. 2, 2022

July 28, 2022: The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, began naval maneuvers in the South China Sea after paying a port call in Singapore. The Reagan "is continuing normal, scheduled operations as part of her routine patrol in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Commander Hayley Sims said in a statement to Reuters. "It is clear from this for everyone to see who is the biggest threat to the South China Sea and the Asian region's peace and stability,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing on July 28. Source: Reuters, July 28, 2022

July 19, 2022: A U.S. warship, the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait on July 19 in defiance of Chinese claims that the strategic waterway was part of its national waters. “This freedom of navigation operation (“FONOP”) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging restrictions on innocent passage imposed by the People’s Republic of China,” said a statement issued by the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet. Chinese military authorities responded that the U.S. is a "maker of security risks" with its frequent provocations in the Taiwan Strait. Source: USNI, July 19, 2022

July 16, 2022: A U.S. warship, the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, sailed in the vicinity of the Chinese-claimed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in what was described by the U.S. Navy as a “freedom of navigation operation” (FONOP). Source: Reuters, July 16, 2022

July 13, 2022: The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group commence combat exercises in the South China. Consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, The guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam and the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, were to conduct “flight operations with fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units,” according to a U.S. Navy 7th Fleet statement. “Our strike group works consistently to stay capable and ready and we continue that focus during operations in the South China Sea to demonstrate our commitment to the region,” said the Reagan strike group’s commander, Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly. Source: USN 7th Fleet, July 13, 2022

July 13, 2022: A U.S. warship, the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold, sailed in the vicinity of the Chinese-claimed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, in what was described by the U.S. Navy as a “freedom of navigation operation” (FONOP). Chinese military authorities claimed that the mission violated China’s sovereignty and that it had mobilized its forces to chase the Benfold away from the area. “The U.S. military’s actions have seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security.” In response, China “organized sea and air forces in the southern theater of the People’s Liberation Army [PLA] to follow up and monitor and warn them to drive away,” said a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Defense. The PLA also released a photo showing the Benfold being monitored by one of its frigates, the Xianning. Source: USNI, July 13, 2022

June 24, 2022: The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command announced that a U.S. Navy E-8A Poseidon electronic surveillance plane flew over the Taiwan Strait on June 24 to demonstrate U.S. adherence to the view that the Strait is an international waterway, not part of China’s national maritime territory. “A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace on June 24…. The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the command’s announcement read. In response, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command mobilized air and ground forces to monitor and guard the entire operation of the US aircraft, according to a Chinese military account on social media platform Weibo. “We express firm opposition to the US’ deliberate act to disrupt the regional situation and undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” said the Weibo post, adding that troops were on “high alert at all times to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty.” Source: CNN, June 24, 2022

May 26, 2022: The Australian Ministry of Defense reported on June 5 that one of its aircraft, a RAAF P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, was intercepted by a Chinese J-16 fighter during maritime surveillance activity in international airspace in the South China Sea region. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said the J-16 aircraft flew very close to the side of the Australian plane, where it released flares. “The J-16 then accelerated and cut across the nose of the P-8…at very close distance,” he told reporters in Melbourne. “At that moment, it then released a bundle of chaff, which contains small pieces of aluminum, some of which were ingested into the engine of the P-8 aircraft. Quite obviously, this is very dangerous.” He said the crew of the P-8 responded professionally and returned the aircraft to its base. Sources: A.A.P., June 5, 2022. In response, China said on June 7 that its military had identified an Australian military aircraft and warned it to leave China’s airspace. Tan Kefei, spokesman at the Chinese defence ministry, said the Australian military flights seriously threatened China's sovereignty and security and that the countermeasures taken by the Chinese military were reasonable and lawful. Source: Reuters, June 7, 2022

May 26, 2022: Four U.S. F-16 fighter planes joined four Japanese F-15 fighters in a joint patrol over the Sea of Japan on May 26, in what was described as response to a Russia-China joint bomber flight while President Biden was in Tokyo on May 24 (see below). The joint flight was meant to demonstrate the combined capabilities of the two militaries and further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, according to a statement released by the Joint Command of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Source: MilitaryTimes, May 26, 2022

April 26-May 26, 2022: The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) reported on June 1 that a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft was intercepted on several occasions by combat aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) while conducting “Op NEON” surveillance operations in pursuance of UN Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions on North Korea for illicit arms activities. “Op NEON… conduct[s] surveillance operations to identify suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities, in particular ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the United Nations Security Council Resolutions,” the CAF report indicated. During the intercepts, “PLAAF aircraft did not adhere to international air safety norms…. In some instances, the RCAF aircrew felt sufficiently at risk that they had to quickly modify their own flight path in order to increase separation and avoid a potential collision with the intercepting aircraft.” Source: Govt. of Canada, June 1, 2022

May 24, 2022: Two Chinese and four Russian warplanes participated in a joint air exercise over the East China Sea while President Biden was in Tokyo at the end of a four-day visit to Asia aimed at bolstering U.S. alliances in the region. Russia’s defense ministry confirmed the joint patrol, which it said lasted 13 hours over the Japanese and East China seas and involved Russian Tu-95 and Chinese H-6 strategic bombers. Both Japan and South Korea scrambled their jet fighters when the Chinese and Russian aircraft approached (but did not enter) their airspace. Senior U.S. officials condemned the joint flight, saying it demonstrated close Sino-Russian cooperation despite the brutality of Russian aggression in Ukraine. “We think it shows that China continues to be willing to closely align themselves with Russia, including through military cooperation,” a senior Biden administration declared. “China is not walking away from Russia. Instead, the exercise shows that China is ready to help Russia defend its east while Russia fights in its west,” the person said. Source: Reuters, May 24, 2022

May 10, 2022: The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal conducted a "routine" transit through the Taiwan Strait on May 10 "in accordance with international law.” The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement that its forces had monitored the ship throughout the transit and "warned" it. "The United States frequently stages such dramas and provokes trouble, sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, and deliberately intensifying tensions across the Taiwan Strait," it added. Source: Reuters, May 11, 2022

April 26, 2022: The guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait on April 26 in what was described as a “routine” operation by the U.S. 7th Fleet. “The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the statement indicated. “The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows.” Source: USNI News, April 26, 2022

April 19, 2022: The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group conducted combat exercises with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Philippine Sea and East China Sea on April 19, the U.S. Navy reported. The carrier strike group teamed up with Japanese destroyers Inazuma and Kongo to complete air warfare training and other exercises aimed at boosting integrated maritime operations and combat readiness, the Navy said. “These exercises demonstrate our collective combat-credible capabilities while safeguarding our shared interests and values,” said Rear Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3 (CSG 3), said in a Navy news release. CSG 3 includes the USS Abraham Lincoln and the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay plus the guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald, USS Gridley, USS Sampson, and USS Spruance. Source: Navy Times, April 19, 2022

April 15, 2022: PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesman Shi Yilu said China had sent frigates, bombers, and fighter planes to the East China Sea and the area around Taiwan on April 15 to coincide with a visit to the island by six U.S. lawmakers, including Sen. Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “This operation is in response to the recent frequent release of wrong signals by the United States on the Taiwan issue,” Shi said. “The U.S. bad actions and tricks are completely futile and very dangerous. Those who play with fire will burn themselves,” he said. The six lawmakers met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and expressed strong support for the island’s self-defense. Senator Lindsey Graham told Tsai during the delegation’s meeting, “We will stand with you. To abandon Taiwan will be to abandon democracy and freedom.” Source: CNBC, April 15, 2022

March 28-29, 2022: The PLA Navy (PLAN) conducted live-fire combat exercises in the East China Sea, state broadcaster CCTV reported on March 30. The PLAN force included the Type 052D destroyer Zibo and Type 054A frigate Yang Zhou. The exercises included underwater reconnaissance, air defense, and ship-to-ship strikes, CCTV said. Source EurAsian Times, April 2, 2022

March 17, 2022: The guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson conducted a transit through the Taiwan Strait on this date, a move condemned by Chinese authorities as a "provocative" act by the United States that sent the wrong signals to pro-Taiwan independence forces. According to some press reports, the Ralph Johnson shadowed the Chinese carrier Shandong as it also passed through the Strait. Source: Reuters, March 18, 2022

Feb. 26, 2022: The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson conducted a "routine" transit through the Taiwan Strait on February 26. "The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," 7th Fleet spokesperson Nicholas Lingo said in a statement. The Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army monitored the passage, which a spokesperson in a statement called a "provocative act." Source: Reuters, Feb. 26, 2022

Jan. 23, 2022: Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that 39 Chinese warplanes had entered its air-defense identification zone on this date, causing it to scramble its own jets to warn off the intruding Chinese aircraft. According to the ministry, the Chinese force included 10 J-10 and 24 J-16 fighters plus four electronic warfare aircraft and one bomber. These planes flew in an area to the northeast of the Taiwanese-controlled Pratas island, according to a map the ministry provided. Some analysts viewed the incursion as a response to the U.S.-Japan naval exercise just undertaken in waters off Okinawa. “As soon as the United States and Japan wrapped up their joint drill near Okinawa, there came the sorties. Very likely the Chinese communists meant it for a show of firepower to the United States and Japan,” said Lin Ying-yu, a research fellow at the Association of Strategic Foresight, a Taipei think tank. Source: SCMP, Jan. 24, 2022

Jan. 23, 2022: The U.S. Navy deployed two carrier battle groups into the South China Sea for combined combat maneuvers: Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG1), led by the USS Abraham Lincoln; and CSG3, led by the USS Carl Vinson. The Vinson was accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain and the guided-missile destroyers USS Stockdale and USS Chafee; the Lincoln was accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay and the guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald, USS Gridley, USS Sampson, and USS Spruance. According to the Navy, the vessels were to engage in “anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations, and maritime interdiction operations.” “Operations like these allow us to improve our combat credible capability, reassure our allies and partners, and demonstrate our resolve as a Navy to ensure regional stability and counter malign influence,” said Rear Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander or CSG3. Source: DVIDS, Jan. 24, 2022

Jan. 22, 2022: The guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey conducted a transit of the Taiwan Strait, the first such operation of 2022. Source: Stars&Stripes, Feb. 26, 2022

Jan. 20, 2022: The U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold conducted a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea, in close proximity to the Chinese-claimed Paracel Islands. This was the first FONOP of 2022. In response to the Benfold’s passage, China’s Southern Theater Command stated that its naval forces tracked and later warned the Benfold away from the Paracels. "We solemnly demand that the U.S. side immediately stop such provocative actions, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of unforeseen events," the command said in a statement. Source: S&S, Jan. 20, 2022

Jan. 17, 2022: The U.S. and Japanese navies conducted five days of joint maneuvers in areas of the Philippine Sea off Okinawa. Participating in the exercises were two U.S. carriers, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Abraham Lincoln; two guided-missile cruisers, the USS Mobile Bay and the USS Lake Champlain; three guided-missile destroyers, the USS Spruance, USS Chafee, and USS Gridley; two amphibious assault ships, the USS America and USS Essex; plus the Japanese destroyer JS Hyuga. Source: USNI, Jan. 23, 2022

Jan. 11, 2022: The U.S. Navy deployed its Carrier Strike Group One (CSG1) and an amphibious ready group (ARG) into the South China Sea for combined military maneuvers running through Jan. 16. The carrier group, headed by the USS Carl Vinson, was accompanied by an escort fleet comprised by the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain and Destroyer Squadron 1, consisting of three Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, USS Michael Murphy, USS O’Kane, and USS Chafee. The amphibious ready group included the USS Essex helicopter landing dock and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor. Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit also took part in the exercises. According to the Navy, the two groups trained in “integrated maritime strike missions, maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, replenishment-at-sea and formation maneuvering/navigation operations.” “Our ability to quickly and effectively integrate with an amphibious ready group…demonstrates a diverse level of naval lethality that is unlike any other naval force,” said Rear Adm. Dan Martin, commander, of CSG1. “The long-range strike capability of the Vinson Strike Group combined with the Essex ARG’s potential to deliver a payload of Marines to any maritime region greatly contributes to the U.S. strategic ability to continue defending a free and open Indo-Pacific.” Source: US Navy, CSG-1, Jan. 16, 2022