China plans live-fire exercise in Taiwan Strait
China announced plans on 12 April to hold live-fire naval drills in the narrow strait separating the mainland from Taiwan, an act that could ratchet up tensions with the island.
The Maritime Safety Administration of Fujian, the province that lies opposite Taiwan, said in a statement: ‘Live-fire military manoeuvres will take place... in the Taiwan Strait on April 18, 2018 between 8am and midnight.’
China, which sees self-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, has stepped up air and naval patrols around the island since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in May 2016.
She refuses publicly to accept the ‘One China’ formula agreed between Beijing and Taiwan’s previous government.
Chinese warplanes conducted 25 drills around Taiwan between August 2016 and mid-December 2017, according to Taipei.
In March 2018, Beijing flexed its military muscle again as its sole operational aircraft carrier – the Liaoning – took part in a naval drill with dozens of other vessels in the South China Sea.
The show of force emerged days after Taiwan said that the Liaoning and other vessels had passed through the Taiwan Strait on 20 March – the same day that Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against any attempts to divide China.
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said it would keep a close eye on the exercise.
It said in a statement: ‘The defence ministry stresses that the military can comprehensively monitor and respond to the regional situation to ensure national security. We ask the public to rest assured.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Navantia pitches 64-cell F110 frigate and sets out plans for 75m autonomous vessel]()
Navantia pitches 64-cell F110 frigate and sets out plans for 75m autonomous vessel
With its second F110 frigate launched four months early, the Spanish shipbuilder is courting allied navies with a missile-defence upgrade and a 75m uncrewed vessel.
-
![Chinese maritime militia puts naval surveillance to the test]()
Chinese maritime militia puts naval surveillance to the test
With record deployments in the South China Sea and a newly reported sighting east of Taiwan, China’s maritime militia is putting greater pressure on regional surveillance. How can navies establish what these vessels are doing quickly and reliably enough to respond?
-
![‘Now Europe is a market’: Fincantieri sees new opportunities closer to home]()
‘Now Europe is a market’: Fincantieri sees new opportunities closer to home
Fincantieri naval vessels chief Eugenio Santagata spoke to Shephard about opportunities and how they sit within a portfolio backed by a “strong backlog”, as Euronaval 2026 unfolded.
-
![US Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine]()
US Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine
NAVSEA is exploring AI-assisted design for a larger, stealthier submarine with increased weapons capacity and uncrewed-system integration, with lead-boat procurement envisaged from 2040.
-
![ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign]()
ST Engineering makes Euronaval debut with MRV European export campaign
A six-ship home order, agreements with Saab, Naval Group and Babcock and spare yard capacity underpin the group’s first Euronaval bid for smaller European navies.
