Conflict coverage · Taiwan Strait

Third Taiwan Strait Crisis — missile tests and carrier deployment

1995–96Key eventEssentialTaiwan Strait

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MilitaryDiplomaticThe Strait and the median line

Beijing conducts missile tests and exercises in waters near Taiwan around President Lee Teng-hui's US visit and the run-up to Taiwan's first direct presidential election. The United States deploys two carrier battle groups to the area. The crisis passes without conflict.

Why it mattersThe most consequential crisis in the modern period, for both sides. It demonstrated the limits of the PLA of the 1990s against American power — and Beijing's response was the sustained military modernisation programme that has changed the regional balance since. Much of what this module describes is downstream of the lesson drawn here.

Confidence: HighSources: Established historical record · US Department of Defense — China Military Power ReportMethodology Corrections

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3 records that this event names, or that name it. Every one is an explicit reference in a published record — nothing here is inferred from subject matter.

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Strait crisesThe Third Strait Crisis

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Where this fits

This is one entry in the Taiwan Strait timeline. The full Key Events surface carries every dated turning point with its filters and its essential subset, and this event in place shows what came before and after it. How Vigil grades, dates and sources its claims is set out in the methodology.