China: June 1, 2001

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China massed warplanes, troops and warships on the coast opposite Taiwan to practice taking one of the small Taiwanese islands off the coast. Part of the exercise involved "repelling aircraft carriers." This meant American carriers and involved China's new Russian warships equipped with "carrier busting" anti-ship missiles. New, Russian made Su-27 fighters are also involved. The American EP-3 recon plane forced down on Hainan island was collecting information on these new Russian weapons. Chinese military strategy apparently sees taking one of the (heavily fortified) Taiwanese islands and sinking a US carrier as a good way to change Taiwan's mind about becoming part of China. 

 

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