210424 US-China graphic Chng copy - The Straits Times
1
High stakes Why is Taiwan important? The US and countries like Japan rely on Taiwan, home to the world’s biggest contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, to contain China and protect trade routes. What China wants China sees democratically run Taiwan as its own territory, to be taken by force if needed, a threat the island has lived with since 1949 when defeated Kuomintang forces fled there after being beaten by the communists in the Chinese civil war. Securing Taiwan would also make Beijing an even more formidable Pacific power. Pratas Islands Okinawa Hainan Dec 19, 2020 Guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin based in Yokosuka, Japan, conducts a Taiwan Strait transit. A day later, China’s new aircraft carrier Shandong also moves through the strait en route to the South China Sea. Dec 31 Guided-missile destroyers USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur sail through the Taiwan Strait in a rare double-warship transit after China starts three simultaneous sea drills off the southern Chinese island of Hainan. Jan 23, 2021 Eight nuclear-capable H-6K bombers and four J-16 fighter jets from China enter the south-western corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ. Taiwan’s air force deploys missiles to “monitor” the incursion. On the same day, a US aircraft carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt enters the South China Sea to promote “freedom of the seas”. This comes just days after Mr Joe Biden is sworn in as US president. Jan 31 Six Chinese fighter aircraft and a US reconnaissance aircraft enter the south-western corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ. Feb 4 The USS John S. McCain (right), which is based in Japan, conducts a routine journey through the Taiwan Strait for the first time since Mr Biden took power. Feb 19 Taiwan’s air force scrambles after eight Chinese fighter aircraft – four Chinese J-16s and four JH-7s – as well as an electronic warfare aircraft fly into its ADIZ near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern part of the South China Sea. Beijing says its increased military activity around Taiwan recently is a response to “collusion” between Taipei and Washington. Feb 24 Destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur sails through the Taiwan Strait, a move slammed by the Chinese military the next day for undermining regional peace and stability. March 1-30 China holds military exercises in the South China Sea for the whole of March. March 26 A total of 20 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ after Taipei and Washington sign an accord to strengthen maritime cooperation. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft involved in the mission are 10 J-16 multirole fighters, two J-10 multirole fighters, four H-6K bombers, two Y-8 anti-submarine warfare planes, one KJ-500 airborne early warning and control plane and one Y-8 tactical reconnaissance plane. April 3 Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (above) and a flotilla of five other warships pass through the Miyako Strait, tracked by the Japan Self-Defence Forces. The carrier group is conducting exercises and training drills in waters off Taiwan this week. April 5 Four Chinese J-16 and four J-10 fighters, as well as an early warning plane and anti-submarine aircraft, enter Taiwan’s ADIZ. The anti-submarine aircraft flies to the south of Taiwan through the strategic Bashi Channel that connects the Pacific to the South China Sea. April 7 Taiwan blasts China’s fighter jet incursions as “self-defeating” as 15 Chinese planes, including 12 fighters, cross into the island’s ADIZ. On the same day, the USS John S. McCain conducts a “routine” transit of the Taiwan Strait. April 9 Eleven Chinese air force aircraft, including eight fighter jets, enter Taiwan’s ADIZ. The US State Department says it is issuing new guidelines to allow US officials to meet their Taiwanese counterparts more easily. April 12 Beijing carries out its largest incursion of Taiwan’s ADIZ since March 26 with 25 planes, including 14 J-16 fighter jets, four J-10 fighters, and four H-6 bombers. Navy Submarines Aircraft carriers Cruisers Destroyers Frigates Naval aviation Aircraft (combat capable) Intercontinental ballistic missile (nuclear) COMPARISON OF MIGHT Defence budget 2020 Active military personnel Includes: Paramilitary 68 11 24 68 21 989 400 (US Air Force Global Strike Command) US US$738 billion 1,388,100 Army: 485,400 Navy: 346,500 Air Force: 331,400 Space Force: 2,400 US Marine Corps: 180,950 US Coast Guard: 41,450 - 59 2 2 31 46 426 104 (PLA Rocket Force) China US$193.3 billion Ground Force: 965,000 Navy: 260,000 Air Force: 395,000 Strategic Missile Force: 120,000 Strategic Support Force: 145,000 Others: 150,000 2,035,000 500,000 Key equipment Bashi Channel Taiwan Strait South China Sea Miyako Strait Pacific Ocean CHINA JAPAN SOUTH KOREA PHILIPPINES TAIWAN TAIWAN Taiwan’s ADIZ TIMELINE OF EVENTS MILITARY FACILITIES US bases Chinese military headquarters Taipei Beijing Sources: THE MILITARY BALANCE 2021 (THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES), THE WASHINGTON POST STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier moored at Naval Base Guam last May. Last year, the Chinese air force flew a record of over 380 sorties that entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on 91 days between January and November. (S$980 billion) (S$257 billion) Guam
Transcript of 210424 US-China graphic Chng copy - The Straits Times
High stakesWhy is Taiwan important?The US and countries like Japan rely on Taiwan, home to the world’s biggest contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, to contain China and protect trade routes.
What China wantsChina sees democratically run Taiwan as its own territory, to be taken by force if needed, a threat the island has lived with since 1949 when defeated Kuomintang forces �ed there after being beaten by the communists in the Chinese civil war. Securing Taiwan would also make Beijing an even more formidable Paci�c power.
PratasIslands
Okinawa
Hainan
Dec 19, 2020Guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin based in Yokosuka, Japan, conducts a Taiwan Strait transit. A day later, China’s new aircraft carrier Shandong also moves through the strait en route to the South China Sea.
Dec 31Guided-missile destroyers USS John S. McCain and USS Curtis Wilbur sail through the Taiwan Strait in a rare double-warship transit after China starts three simultaneous sea drills off the southern Chinese island of Hainan.
Jan 23, 2021Eight nuclear-capable H-6K bombers and four J-16 �ghter jets from China enter the south-western corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ. Taiwan’s air force deploys missiles to “monitor” the incursion. On the same day, a US aircraft carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt enters the South China Sea to promote “freedom of the seas”. This comes just days after Mr Joe Biden is sworn in as US president.
Jan 31Six Chinese �ghter aircraft and a US reconnaissance aircraft enter the south-western corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ.
Feb 4The USS John S. McCain (right), which is based in Japan, conducts a routine journey through the Taiwan Strait for the �rst time since Mr Biden took power.
Feb 19Taiwan’s air force scrambles after eight Chinese �ghter aircraft – four Chinese J-16s and four JH-7s – as well as an electronic warfare aircraft �y into its ADIZ near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern part of the South China Sea. Beijing says its increased military activity around Taiwan recently is a response to “collusion” between Taipei and Washington.
Feb 24Destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur sails through the Taiwan Strait, a move slammed by the Chinese military the next day for undermining regional peace and stability.
March 1-30China holds military exercises in the South China Sea for the whole of March.
March 26A total of 20 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ after Taipei and Washington sign an accord to strengthen maritime cooperation. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft involved in the mission are 10 J-16 multirole �ghters, two J-10 multirole �ghters, four H-6K bombers, two Y-8 anti-submarine warfare planes, one KJ-500 airborne early warning and control plane and one Y-8 tactical reconnaissance plane.
April 3Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (above) and a �otilla of �ve other warships pass through the Miyako Strait, tracked by the Japan Self-Defence Forces. The carrier group is conducting exercises and training drills in waters off Taiwan this week.
April 5Four Chinese J-16 and four J-10 �ghters, as well as an early warning plane and anti-submarine aircraft, enter Taiwan’s ADIZ. The anti-submarine aircraft �ies to the south of Taiwan through the strategic Bashi Channel that connects the Paci�c to the South China Sea.
April 7Taiwan blasts China’s �ghter jet incursions as “self-defeating” as 15 Chinese planes, including 12 �ghters, cross into the island’s ADIZ. On the same day, the USS John S. McCain conducts a “routine” transit of the Taiwan Strait.
April 9Eleven Chinese air force aircraft, including eight �ghter jets, enter Taiwan’s ADIZ. The US State Department says it is issuing new guidelines to allow US of�cials to meet their Taiwanese counterparts more easily.
April 12Beijing carries out its largest incursion of Taiwan’s ADIZ since March 26 with 25 planes, including 14 J-16 �ghter jets, four J-10 �ghters, and four H-6 bombers.
NavySubmarines
Aircraftcarriers
Cruisers
Destroyers
Frigates
Naval aviationAircraft(combatcapable)
Intercontinentalballisticmissile (nuclear)
COMPARISON OF MIGHT
Defencebudget 2020
Active militarypersonnel
Includes:
Paramilitary
68
11
24
68
21
989
400(US Air Force Global
Strike Command)
US
US$738 billion
1,388,100Army: 485,400Navy: 346,500
Air Force: 331,400Space Force: 2,400
US Marine Corps: 180,950US Coast Guard: 41,450
-
59
2
2
31
46
426
104(PLA Rocket Force)
China
US$193.3 billion
Ground Force: 965,000Navy: 260,000
Air Force: 395,000Strategic Missile Force: 120,000
Strategic Support Force: 145,000Others: 150,000
2,035,000
500,000
Key equipment
Bashi Channel
Taiwan Strait
SouthChina Sea
Miyako Strait
Pacific Ocean
CHINA
JAPANSOUTHKOREA
PHILIPPINES
TAIWANTAIWAN
Taiwan’s ADIZ
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
MILITARY FACILITIES
US bases
Chinese militaryheadquarters
Taipei
Beijing
Sources: THE MILITARY BALANCE 2021 (THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES), THE WASHINGTON POST STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS
The USS Theodore Rooseveltaircraft carrier moored at
Naval Base Guam last May.
Last year, the Chinese air force �ew a record of over 380 sorties that entered Taiwan’s air defence identi�cation zone (ADIZ) on 91 days between January and November.
(S$980 billion) (S$257 billion)
Guam
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