View source for Third Taiwan Strait Crisis

{{Short description|1995–96 period of tension between the PRC and ROC}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| partof            = the [[Chinese Civil War]]
| conflict          = Third Taiwan Strait Crisis<br />台灣海峽飛彈危機
| image             = Third Taiwan Strait Crisis map.png
| image_size        = 332px
| caption           = Map of the military zones used by the PLA around Taiwan during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
| date              = 21 July 1995 – 23 March 1996<br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=07|day1=21|year1=1995|month2=03|day2=23|year2=1996}})
| place             = [[Taiwan Strait]]
| combatant1        = {{flagdeco|Taiwan}} [[Taiwan|Republic of China]]<br />{{Flag|United States|1960|size=23px}} (naval support)
| combatant2        = {{flagdeco|China}} [[China|People's Republic of China]]
| units1            = {{Flagdeco|Taiwan}} [[Republic of China Armed Forces|ROC Armed Forces]]<br />{{Flagdeco|United States|1960}} [[United States Navy]]
| units2            = {{Armed forces|China}}
| commander1        = {{flagicon|Taiwan}} '''[[Lee Teng-hui]]'''<br />{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Lien Chan]]<br />{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Chiang Chung-ling]]<br />{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Tang Fei]]<br />{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Wu Shih-wen]]<br />{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Tang Yao-ming]]<br />{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Nelson Ku]]<br />{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[:zh:黃顯榮 (中華民國空軍)|Huang Hsien-jung]]<br />{{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[:zh:王若愚|Wang Jo-yu]]<br />{{flagicon|United States|1960}} '''[[Bill Clinton]]'''<br />{{flagicon|United States|1960}} [[John Shalikashvili]] <br /> {{flagicon|United States|1960}} [[Archie R. Clemins|Archie Clemins]] <br /> {{flagicon|United States|1960}} [[Lyle G. Bien|Lyle Bien]]
| commander2        = {{flagicon|China}} '''[[Jiang Zemin]]'''<br />{{flagicon|China}} [[Li Peng]]<br />{{flagicon|China}} [[Liu Huaqing]]<br />{{flagicon|China}} [[Zhang Zhen (general)|Zhang Zhen]]<br />{{flagicon|China}} [[Zhang Lianzhong]]<br />{{flagicon|China}} [[Chi Haotian]]<br />{{flagicon|China|military|size=23px}} [[Zhang Wannian]]<br />{{flagicon|China|military|size=23px}} [[Fu Quanyou]]
| strength1         = {{flagicon|Taiwan}}<br />[[MIM-104 Patriot]], [[MIM-23 Hawk]], [[Northrop F-5|F-5 Tiger]], [[F-CK-1]], [[Lockheed F-104|F-104 Starfighter]], {{sclass|Knox|frigate|1}}, {{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|1}}, etc.<br />{{Flagdeco|United States|1960}}<br />{{USS|Independence|CV-62}}, {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68}}, {{USS|Belleau Wood|LHA-3}}, {{USS|Bunker Hill|CG-52}}, etc.
| strength2         = {{flagicon|China}} [[DF-15]], [[Chengdu J-7]], [[Shenyang J-8]], etc.
| result            = Inconclusive
* Ceasefire
}}

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 [[China|People's Republic of China]] (PRC) in the waters surrounding [[Geography of Taiwan|Taiwan]], including the [[Taiwan Strait]], from 21 July 1995 to 23 March 1996. The first set of missiles fired in mid-to-late 1995 was allegedly intended to send a strong signal to the [[Government of the Republic of China|Republic of China government]] (ROC) under [[President of the Republic of China|President]] [[Lee Teng-hui]], who had been seen as "moving its foreign policy away from the [[One-China policy]]", as claimed by the PRC.<ref name="CornellNews">{{cite web |title=Taiwan's President Speaks at Cornell Reunion Weekend |url=https://www.news.cornell.edu/campus/Lee/Lee-index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710033443/http://www.news.cornell.edu/campus/Lee/Lee-index.html |archive-date=2012-07-10 |access-date=20 July 2010 |publisher=Cornell University}}</ref> The second set of missiles was fired in early 1996, allegedly intending to intimidate the Taiwanese electorate in the run-up to the [[1996 Taiwan presidential election|1996 presidential election]].

==Lee's 1995 visit to Cornell==
{{see also|1996 Taiwanese presidential election}}
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 on the move|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, [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Warren Christopher]] assured [[Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China|PRC Foreign Minister]] [[Qian Qichen]] that a [[Visa policy of the United States|visa]] for Lee would be "inconsistent with [the U.S.'s] unofficial [[Taiwan–United States relations|relationship]] [with Taiwan]." However, the humiliation from Lee's last visit caught the attention of many pro-Taiwan figures in the U.S. and this time, the [[United States Congress]] acted on Lee's behalf. The lobbying firm [[Cassidy & Associates]] worked to obtain Congressional support for the visit.<ref name=":2" /> In May 1995, a [[concurrent resolution]] asking the [[State Department]] to allow Lee to visit the U.S. passed the [[United States House of Representatives|House]] on 2 May with a vote of 396 to 0 (with 38 not voting), and the [[United States Senate|Senate]] on 9 May with a vote of 97 to 1 (with 2 not voting).<ref>{{USBill|104|hcr|53}}. Senator [[Bennett Johnston Jr.]] (D-LA) was the lone "nay" voter</ref> The State Department relented on 22 May 1995. Lee spent 9–10 June 1995 in the U.S. at a Cornell alumni reunion.<ref name="CornellNews" />

The United States had not prepared the [[Government of China|People's Republic of China]] for its policy reversal in granting a visa.<ref name=":054">{{Cite book |last=Lampton |first=David M. |author-link=David M. Lampton |title=Living U.S.-China Relations: From Cold War to Cold War |date=2024 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1-5381-8725-8 |location=Lanham, MD |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=224}} While in the United States, Lee stated, "Taiwan is a country with independent sovereignty.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |title=The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2024 |isbn=9781032861661 |editor-last=Zhao |editor-first=Suisheng |editor-link=Suisheng Zhao |location=London and New York |pages= |chapter=Is Beijing's Long Game on Taiwan about to End? Peaceful Unification, Brinksmanship, and Military Takeover |doi=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=11}} PRC leadership described Lee's moves as an effort to "split [[the motherland]]".<ref name="Roy197">Denny Roy. ''Taiwan: A Political History.'' Cornell University Press, 2003. p. 197. {{ISBN|9780801488054}}</ref> 

==1995==
In July 1995, [[Xinhua News Agency]] announced missile tests would be conducted by the [[People's Liberation Army]] (PLA); later, it announced when the exercises finished.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Fiona S. |title=Under the Nuclear Shadow: China's Information-Age Weapons in International Security |date=2025 |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=978-0-691-26103-4 |location=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=145}} The PRC mobilized forces in [[Fujian]]. The PRC sent officials to both [[Washington, D.C.|Washington D.C.]] and [[Taipei]] to convey that the PRC did not intend to invade Taiwan.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=145}} 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 official message from China in early July 1995; "Our [[Ballistic missile|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.<ref>The series was later published as a book: 李登輝秘録 (Ri Touki Hiroku) {{ISBN|978-4819113885}}.</ref>

From 21 July to 28 July, the [[Second Artillery Corps]] (SAC) conducted a round of missile launches in an area 36 miles north of Taiwan.<ref name=":Li">{{Cite book |last=Li |first=Xiaobing |title=China under Xi Jinping: A New Assessment |publisher=[[Leiden University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9789087284411 |editor-last=Fang |editor-first=Qiang |chapter=Beijing's Military Power and East Asian-Pacific Hot Spots |editor-last2=Li |editor-first2=Xiaobing}}</ref>{{Rp|page=267}} On 21 July, SAC launched two [[DF-15|Dongfeng-15]] missiles approximately 70 nautical miles from the coast of Taiwan.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=267}} On 22 July, SAC fired two missiles at an area 40 miles north of Taiwan.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|pages=267-268}} On 24 July, it fired two more at the same area.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=268}} Simultaneously, the PRC concentrated naval and [[Amphibious landing|amphibious landing forces]] in the area of the strait and conducted military exercises.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=268}} 

The United States responded by sending two aircraft [[Carrier battle group|carrier groups]] to the vicinity of Taiwan.<ref name=":054" />{{Rp|page=224}} In July 1995, [[USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)|USS ''Belleau Wood'' (LHA-3)]] transited the Taiwan Strait.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Roper |first=John C. |date=26 January 1996 |title=U.S. aircraft carrier in Asia 'routine' |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/01/26/US-aircraft-carrier-in-Asia-routine/5535822632400/ |access-date=2022-01-08 |website=UPI |language=en |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>

From 15 August to 25 August, the [[East Sea Fleet]] deployed 59 naval vessels for exercises, during which the [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]] practiced 192 sorties.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=268}} Naval exercises continued in September and October.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=145}} In November, the PLA conducted a major amphibious landing exercise in the [[Nanjing Military Region]].<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=145}}

The United States sent the [[USS O'Brien (DD-975)|''USS O'Brien'' (DD-975)]] and [[USS McClusky (FFG-41)|''USS McClusky'' (FFG-41)]] through the strait on 11–12 December 1995.<ref name=":1" /> Finally, on 19 December 1995, the [[USS Nimitz (CVN-68)|USS ''Nimitz'' (CVN-68)]] and her [[Carrier battle group|battle group]] passed through the straits.<ref name=":1" />

== 1996 ==
Between January and February 1996, the PRC concentrated 100,000 troops along the strait and conducted large-scale exercises.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=268}} Tensions remained high in early 1996 as Taiwan prepared for its [[1996 Taiwanese presidential election|first presidential election]] and Lee Teng-hui ran on the [[Kuomintang]]'s ticket.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=268}}

On 8 March, the PRC fired more missiles 20 miles off [[Keelung]] and 29 miles off [[Kaohsiung]].<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=268}} Over 70 percent of commercial shipping passed through the targeted ports, which were disrupted by the proximity of the tests.<ref>{{cite book|last=Li|first=Xiaobing|title=China at War: An Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jhPyvsdymU8C&pg=PA445|date=2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-415-3|page=445|access-date=28 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Navy ships to sail near Taiwan |url=http://edition.cnn.com/US/9603/us_china/ |publisher=CNN |date=10 March 1996 |access-date=28 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402191204/http://edition.cnn.com/US/9603/us_china/ |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The PRC also conducted a launch on 11 March.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=146}}

On 10 March, the United States announced that it was dispatching the ''[[USS Independence (CV-62)|USS Independence]]'' toward the strait.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=146}} According to [[The Washington Post|''The Washington Post'']], that same day, the [[USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)|USS ''Bunker Hill'' CG-52]] (which had detached from the ''Independence'' Battlegroup), along with an [[Boeing RC-135|RC-135]] Intelligence aircraft, monitored the launch of 3 [[DF-15|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gellman |first=Barton |date=21 June 1998 |title=U.S. AND CHINA NEARLY CAME TO BLOWS IN '96 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/06/21/us-and-china-nearly-came-to-blows-in-96/926d105f-1fd8-404c-9995-90984f86a613/ |publisher=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

On the following day, the PRC announced [[Live fire exercise|live-fire exercises]] to be conducted near [[Penghu]] from 12 to 20 March. On 11 March, the U.S. dispatched USS ''Nimitz'' CVN-68 and her battlegroup, [[Carrier Group Seven]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn68-95/index.html |title=USS Nimitz CVN-68 WestPac Cruise Book 1994-96 |publisher=[[United States Navy]] |year=1996}}</ref><ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=268}} ''Nimitz'' and her battle group, along with ''Belleau Wood'', sailed through the [[Taiwan Strait]], while ''Independence'' did not.<ref>{{cite book |last=Elleman |first=Bruce |title=Taiwan Straits: Crisis in Asia and the Role of the U.S. Navy |date=2014 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8108-8890-6 |page=130}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Copper |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/taiwansmid1990se00copp/page/116 |url-access=registration |title=Taiwan's Mid-1990s Elections: Taking the Final Steps to Democracy |date=1998 |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=978-0-275-96207-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/taiwansmid1990se00copp/page/116 116]}}</ref> The PRC 12 March to 20 March exercises proceeded<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=146}} and in response to the U.S. moves, the PRC announced further exercises.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=268}}

From 18 March to 25 March, the PRC conducted military exercises involving airplanes, guided missile destroyers, [[Submarine|submarines]], and 150,000 troops at [[Pingtan Island]].<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|pages=268-269}} The exercises practiced amphibious landing, mountainous assaults, and included paratrooper exercises.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=269}}

== Aftermath ==
Shipping and insurance rates for freight to Taiwan radically increased during the crisis and two of the Chinese missile launches twice closed the straits to all sea and airborne commerce.<ref name=":12" />{{Rp|page=19}}

The crisis boosted Lee by 5% in the polls, earning him a majority as opposed to a plurality.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Baron |first=James |date=18 August 2020 |title=The Glorious Contradictions of Lee Teng-hui |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/08/the-glorious-contradictions-of-lee-teng-hui/ |access-date=28 September 2020 |work=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]}}</ref> On March 23, 1996, Lee was elected Taiwan's president.<ref name=":Li" />{{Rp|page=269}}

[[People's Liberation Army|The PLA]] viewed the 1995 military exercises as successful.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=147}} [[Zhang Wannian]] stated, "First, they showed the strong resolve of the PLA in protecting national unity; second, they served as a warning to the outside intervening powers; third, they also provided encouragement for the people on Taiwan who supported peaceful reunification of the island."<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=147}} [[Fu Quanyou]] reported to [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]] that the 1995 exercises were "all extremely successful: they attacked the power of the 'Taiwan separatists' represented by Lee Teng-hui, warned the United States as the main outside intervening power, and they were forcefully accompanied by political and diplomatic struggles and were highly praised by the Politburo and the CMC."<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=147}}

The PLA believed that it lacked sufficient leverage in comparison to the United States.<ref name=":3" />{{Rp|page=147}} Jiang ordered the PLA to begin a ten-year modernization program.<ref name=":054" />{{Rp|page=225}} Soon, the People's Republic ordered {{sclass|Sovremenny|destroyer|1}}s from Russia, a [[Cold War]]-era class designed to counter U.S. Navy [[carrier battle group]]s, allegedly in mid-December 1996 during the visit to Moscow by Chinese Premier [[Li Peng]]. The PRC subsequently ordered modern attack submarines ({{sclass2|Kilo|submarine|4}}) and warplanes (76 [[Sukhoi Su-30MKK|Su-30MKK]] and 24 [[Su-30MK2]]) to counter the U.S. Navy's carrier groups.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The military tests and exercises also strengthened the argument for further [[U.S. arms sales to Taiwan|U.S. arms sales to the ROC]] and led to the strengthening of [[Japan–United States relations#Military relations|military ties between the U.S. and Japan]], increasing the role Japan would play in defending Taiwan.

During the military exercises in March, concerns arose 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.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} The most likely target was [[Wuqiu, Kinmen|Wuqiu]] (Wuchiu), then garrisoned by 500 soldiers. The outlying islands were placed on high alert.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/The_Times_News_Idaho_Newspaper_1996_02_25/page/n17|date=25 February 1996|title=Report: China expected to attack island|page=C6|newspaper=[[Times-News (Idaho)|The Times-News]]|quote=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.}}</ref> The then Secretary General of the [[National Security Council (Taiwan)|National Security Council]] of Taiwan, [[Ting Mao-shih]], flew to New York to meet [[Sandy Berger|Samuel Berger]], [[Deputy National Security Advisor (United States)|Deputy National Security Advisor]] of the United States.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Xin|first=Qiang|url=http://ias.cass.cn/show/show_mgyj.asp?id=1225&table=mgyj |title=迈向"准军事同盟"：美台安全合作的深化与升级（1995~2008）|trans-title=Moving toward a "Quasi-Military Alliance": The Deepening and Upgrading of US–Taiwan Security Cooperation (1995–2008)|journal=American Studies Quarterly|issue=4|year=2009|language=zh|access-date=2013-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604193934/http://ias.cass.cn/show/show_mgyj.asp?id=1225&table=mgyj |archive-date=2013-06-04 }}</ref>

In 1999, [[Major General]] [[Liu Liankun]], a top Chinese military logistics officer, and his subordinate [[Senior Colonel]] Shao Zhengzhong were arrested, [[court-martialed]] and [[executed]] for disclosing to Taiwan that the missiles had unarmed warheads despite the Chinese government's claims.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lim |first=Benjamin Kang |date=14 September 1999 |title=China executes two for spying for Taiwan |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/09/14/china-executes-two-for-spying-for-taiwan/2572942a-153e-41d2-8ecd-fa209f2779f2/ |access-date=26 September 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

{{column|num=4
|1=
{{Location map many| Japan Ryukyu Islands
| caption     =  The four vertices (red) (23°13′N 122°20′E, 25°13′N 122°40′E, 24°57′N 122°40′E, 24°57′N 122°20′E) of the announced quadrilateral area reserved for the military exercise off Keelung (orange) between 8 and 15 March 1996.<ref name="CCTV 东南沿海演习始末下">{{cite web|url=http://www.cctv.com/lm/655/32/39507.html|script-title=zh:硝烟滚滚震慑"台独"——东南沿海演习始末(下) |trans-title=Gunpowder smoke deters "Taiwanese independence" — the beginning and end of the southeast coastal exercise (part 2) |publisher=China Central Television|access-date=2019-07-26|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923222119/http://www.cctv.com/lm/655/32/39507.html|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- MARK 1 -->
| mark1size   =  5
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| lon1_min    =  20
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| lat3_min    =  57
| lat3_dir    = 
| lon3_deg    =  122
| lon3_min    =  40
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| mark4size   =  5
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| lat4_min    =  57
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| lon4_deg    =  122
| lon4_min    =  20
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<!-- MARK 5 -->
| label5      =  Keelung
| position5   =  top
| mark5       =  Orange pog.svg
| lat5_deg    =  25
| lat5_min    =  08
| lat5_dir    = 
| lon5_deg    =  121
| lon5_min    =  44
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|2=
{{Location map many|Taiwan
| caption     =  The four vertices (red) (22°38′N 119°25′E, 22°38′N 119°45′E, 22°22′N 119°45′E, 22°22′N 119°25′E) of the announced quadrilateral area reserved for the military exercise off Kaohsiung (orange) between 8 and 15 March 1996.<ref name="CCTV 东南沿海演习始末下" />
<!-- MARK 1 -->
| lat1_deg    =  22
| lat1_min    =  38
| lat1_dir    = 
| lon1_deg    =  119
| lon1_min    =  25
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| lat2_deg    =  22
| lat2_min    =  38
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| lon2_deg    =  119
| lon2_min    =  45
| lon2_dir    = 
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| lat3_deg    =  22
| lat3_min    =  22
| lat3_dir    = 
| lon3_deg    =  119
| lon3_min    =  45
| lon3_dir    = 
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| lat4_deg    =  22
| lat4_min    =  22
| lat4_dir    = 
| lon4_deg    =  119
| lon4_min    =  25
| lon4_dir    = 
<!-- MARK 5 -->
| label5      =  Kaohsiung
| position5   =  top
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| lat5_deg    =  22
| lat5_min    =  38
| lat5_dir    = 
| lon5_deg    =  120
| lon5_min    =  16
| lon5_dir    = 
}}
|3=
{{Location map many| South China Sea
| caption     =  The four vertices (red) (23°57′N 118°06′E, 23°25′N 118°50′E, 22°30′N 117°30′E, 23°01′N 116°46′E) of the announced quadrilateral area reserved for the military exercise between 12 and 20 March 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.china.com.cn/aboutchina/txt/2009-03/19/content_17466231.htm|script-title=zh: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|trans-title=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|website=people.com.cn|date=2009-03-19|access-date=17 December 2014|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630104434/http://www.china.com.cn/aboutchina/txt/2009-03/19/content_17466231.htm|archive-date=30 June 2010}}</ref>
<!-- MARK 1 -->
| lat1_deg    =  23
| lat1_min    =  57
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| lon1_deg    =  118
| lon1_min    =  06
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| lat2_deg    =  23
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| lat2_dir    = 
| lon2_deg    =  118
| lon2_min    =  50
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| lat3_deg    =  22
| lat3_min    =  30
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| lon3_deg    =  117
| lon3_min    =  30
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| lat4_deg    =  23
| lat4_min    =  01
| lat4_dir    = 
| lon4_deg    =  116
| lon4_min    =  46
| lon4_dir    = 
}}
|4=
{{Location map many| Taiwan
| caption     =  The four vertices (red) (25°50′N 119°50′E, 25°32′N 120°24′E, 24°54′N 119°56′E, 25°12′N 119°26′E) of the announced quadrilateral area reserved for the military exercise between 18 and 25 March 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.china.com.cn/aboutchina/txt/2009-03/16/content_17452166.htm|title=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|trans-title=18 March 1996: The Chinese People's Liberation Army conducts joint land, sea and air exercises in the Taiwan Strait|website=people.com.cn|date=2009-03-16|access-date=17 December 2014|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522185111/http://www.china.com.cn/aboutchina/txt/2009-03/16/content_17452166.htm|archive-date=22 May 2013}}</ref>
<!-- MARK 1 -->
| lat1_deg    =  25
| lat1_min    =  50
| lat1_dir    = 
| lon1_deg    =  119
| lon1_min    =  50
| lon1_dir    = 
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| lat2_deg    =  25
| lat2_min    =  32
| lat2_dir    = 
| lon2_deg    =  120
| lon2_min    =  24
| lon2_dir    = 
<!-- MARK 3 -->
| lat3_deg    =  24
| lat3_min    =  54
| lat3_dir    = 
| lon3_deg    =  119
| lon3_min    =  56
| lon3_dir    = 
<!-- MARK 4 -->
| lat4_deg    =  25
| lat4_min    =  12
| lat4_dir    = 
| lon4_deg    =  119
| lon4_min    =  26
| lon4_dir    = 
}}
}}

== U.S. order of battle (March 1996 – May 1996) ==
[[File:USS Independence (CV-62) underway at sea on 10 March 1996.jpeg|alt=USS Independence CV-62 on 10 March 1996.|thumb|229x229px|USS ''Independence'' CV-62 on 10 March 1996.]]

=== U.S. 7th Fleet ===
* '''''Carrier Group 5 - Independence CVBG''''' - (East China Sea)
** [[USS Independence (CV-62)|USS ''Independence'' CV-62]] ([[Forrestal-class aircraft carrier|Forrestal Class Carrier]])
*** [[Carrier Air Wing Five|''Carrier Air Wing 5'' ''- NF'']]
**** [[VFA-154|VF-154 Black Knights]] - [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14A Tomcat]] ([[Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System|TARPS equipped]])
**** [[VFA-192|VFA-192 Golden Dragons]] - [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18C Hornet]]
**** [[VFA-195 (U.S. Navy)|VFA-195 Dambusters]] - F/A-18C Hornet
**** [[VFA-115|VA-115 Eagles]] - [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|A-6E SWIP Intruder]]
**** [[VAQ-136|VAQ-136 Gauntlets]] - [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B Prowler]]
**** [[Sea Control Squadron 21|VS-21 Red Tails]] - [[Lockheed S-3 Viking|S-3B Viking]]
**** [[VAW-115|VAW-115 Liberty Bells]] - [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C Hawkeye]]
**** [[VQ-5|VQ-5 Sea Shadows Det.A]] - [[ES-3A Shadow]]
**** [[HSC-14|HS-14 Chargers]] - [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|SH-60F Oceanhawk/HH-60H Rescuehawk]]
** [[USS Bunker Hill (CG-52)|USS ''Bunker Hill'' CG-52]] ([[Ticonderoga-class cruiser|Ticonderoga Class VLS Cruiser]]) - (Detached from the Battlegroup southeast of the R.O.C.)<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/b/bunker-hill-cg-52-ii/pdf/1996.pdf|title=USS Bunker Hill CG-52 Command Operations Report 1996|publisher=United States Navy|year=1996}}</ref>
** [[USS Hewitt|USS ''Hewitt'' DD-966]] ([[Spruance-class destroyer|Spruance Class VLS Destroyer]])<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/b/bunker-hill-cg-52-ii/pdf/1996.pdf|title=USS Bunker Hill CG-52 Command Operations Report 1996|publisher=United States Navy|year=1996}}</ref>
** [[USS O'Brien (DD-975)|USS ''O'Brien'' DD-975]] (Spruance Class VLS Destroyer)<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/b/bunker-hill-cg-52-ii/pdf/1996.pdf|title=USS Bunker Hill CG-52 Command Operations Report 1996|publisher=United States Navy|year=1996}}</ref>
** [[USS McClusky (FFG-41)|USS ''McClusky'' FFG-41]] ([[Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate|Oliver H. Perry Class Frigate]])* - ''After May 10, 1996*''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/m/mcclusky-ffg-41-i/pdf/1996.pdf|title=USS McClusky FFG-41 Command Operations Report - 1996|publisher=United States Navy|year=1996}}</ref>
* [[File:Nimitz with Independence.jpg|thumb|''Nimitz'' (''left'') cruising with {{USS|Independence|CV-62|2}} and {{USS|Port Royal|CG-73|2}} in the [[Sea of Japan]] in September 1997]]'''''Carrier Group 7'' - ''Nimitz CVBG''''' - (Taiwan Strait)
** [[USS Nimitz (CVN-68)|USS ''Nimitz'' CVN-68]] ([[Nimitz-class aircraft carrier|Nimitz Class Carrier]])
*** ''[[Carrier Air Wing Nine|Carrier Air Wing 9 - NG]]''
**** [[VF-24|VF-24 Fighting Renegades]] - F-14A Tomcat
**** [[VFA-211 (U.S. Navy)|VF-211 Checkmates]] - F-14A Tomcat (TARPS equipped)<ref>{{Cite web|title=VF-211 Squadron History|url=http://www.topedge.com/alley/squadron/pac/vf211his.htm|access-date=2022-01-08|website=www.topedge.com}}</ref>
**** [[VFA-146|VFA-146 Blue Diamonds]] - F/A-18C (Night Attack) Hornet
**** [[VFA-147|VFA-147 Argonauts]] - F/A-18C (Night Attack) Hornet
**** [[VA-165 (U.S. Navy)|VA-165 Boomers]] - A-6E SWIP Intruder
**** [[VAQ-138|VAQ-138 Yellow Jackets]] - EA-6B Prowler
**** [[VS-33|VS-33 Screwbirds]] - S-3B Viking
**** [[VAW-112|VAW-112 Golden Hawks]] - E-2C Hawkeye
**** VQ-5 Sea Shadows Det.C - ES-3A Shadow
**** [[HSC-8|HS-8 Eightballers]] - SH-60F Oceanhawk/HH-60H Rescuehawk
** [[USS Port Royal (CG-73)|USS ''Port Royal'' CG-73]] (Ticonderoga Class VLS Cruiser)<ref name=":4" />
** [[USS Oldendorf|USS ''Oldendorf'' DD-972]] (Spruance Class VLS Destroyer)<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=CNN - Ships of the U.S. Taiwan deployment - Mar. 13, 1996|url=http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9603/china_taiwan/taiwan_ships/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030502154124/http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9603/china_taiwan/taiwan_ships/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 May 2003|access-date=2022-01-08|website=CNN}}</ref>
** [[USS Callaghan (DDG-994)|USS ''Callaghan'' DD-994]] ([[Kidd-class destroyer|Kidd Class Destroyer]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Callaghan II (DDG-994)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/callaghan-ii.html|access-date=2022-01-08|website=NHHC|language=en-US}}</ref>
** [[USS Ford (FFG-54)|USS ''Ford'' FFG-54]] (Oliver H. Perry Class Frigate)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/f/ford-ffg-54-i/pdf/1996.pdf|title=USS Ford FFG-54 - Command Operations Report 1996|publisher=United States Navy|year=1996}}</ref>
*'''''Amphibious Squadron 11 - Belleau Wood ARG<ref name=":">{{Cite book|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD/Status%20of%20Forces/1986-2000/February%201996_V2.pdf?ver=2019-03-27-093056-060&timestamp=1553778637794|title=US Marines Corps Operational Summary February 1996|publisher=United States Marine Corps|year=1996}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/HD/Status%20of%20Forces/1986-2000/April%201996_V2.pdf?ver=2019-03-27-092904-733&timestamp=1553778829302|title=US Marines Corps Operational Summary April 1996|publisher=United States Marine Corps|year=1996}}</ref>''' -'' (Taiwan Strait)
**[[USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)|USS ''Belleau Wood'' LHA-3]] ([[Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship|Tarawa Class Amphibious Assault Ship]])
***''[[31st Marine Expeditionary Unit]]''
****[[VMA-311|VMA-311 Tomcats Det.]] - [[McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II|AV-8B Harrier II]]
****HMLA Det. - [[Bell AH-1 SuperCobra|AH-1W Super Cobra]]/[[Bell UH-1N Twin Huey|UH-1N Twin Huey]]
****[[HMH-466|HMH-466 Wolfpack Det.]] - [[Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion|CH-53E Super Stallion]]
****[[HMM-265|HMM-265 Dragons]]  - [[Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight|CH-46E Sea Knight]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Taiwan|China|United States|Modern history}}
* [[Political status of Taiwan]]
* [[Battle of Guningtou]]
* [[First Taiwan Strait Crisis]]
* [[Second Taiwan Strait Crisis]]
* [[Fourth Taiwan Strait Crisis]]
* [[Taiwan Relations Act]]
* [[Chinese Civil War]]
* [[2022 United States congressional delegation visit to Taiwan]]
* [[2022 Chinese military exercises around Taiwan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}{{Chinese Civil War}}
{{Post-Cold War Asian conflicts}}

{{PRC conflicts}}
{{Cross-Strait relations}}
{{Taiwan–United States relations}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord missing|Taiwan}}

[[Category:Taiwan Strait|Crisis]]
[[Category:1995 in China]]
[[Category:1995 in Taiwan]]
[[Category:1996 in China]]
[[Category:1996 in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1995]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1996]]
[[Category:Cross-strait conflict]]
[[Category:Naval history of China]]
[[Category:Taiwan under Republic of China rule]]
[[Category:Military history of Taiwan]]