Tensions in the Taiwan Strait caused by Pelosi's escape

As the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Pelosi visited Taiwan on August 2, 2022. This incident directly ignited a confrontation between China and the United States on the Taiwan Strait issue. She is the first US House Speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years. At that time, Sino-US relations were quite sensitive. Some people in the United States always like to make a fuss about the Taiwan issue. This visit to Taiwan was regarded as a provocation to the mainland's bottom line.

Mainland China responded immediately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this to be serious interference in internal affairs, and the Ministry of National Defense also emphasized that this undermined the stability of the Taiwan Strait. As soon as Pelosi's plane landed in Taipei, the media was in a fit of trouble, and all parties analyzed what chain reaction this would bring.

As a result, mainland China began to organize large-scale military exercises on August 4, and dispatched the Eastern Theater Command to deploy the land, naval and air rocket forces, demarcated six exercise areas, and carried out live-fire shooting. The scale of this military exercise was unprecedented. The missile flew over Taiwan and fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone, and the international community was paying attention.

The G7 countries issued a statement criticizing mainland China's actions, saying it threatens regional stability, but mainland China's foreign ministry fired back saying it was a legitimate response. After Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, mainland China announced sanctions on her and her immediate relatives, and also suspended the cooperation mechanisms in multiple fields between China and the United States. On the Taiwan side, the Tsai Ing-wen administration strengthened combat readiness and held live-fire exercises to test its defense capabilities.

The entire incident changed the Taiwan Strait from relatively calm to a highly alert state. Looking back, Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is not isolated. Some members of the US Congress always like to play the Taiwan card. From 2021 to 2023, the US passed a number of Taiwan-related bills to provide military aid and sell weapons to Taiwan. Taiwan bought the Himas rocket launcher and harpoon missile to try to improve its asymmetric combat capabilities.

But on the mainland, military exercises have become normalized. Starting from August 2022, there will be another "United Sword-2023A" in April 2023, responding to Tsai Ing-wen's transit to the United States to meet with McCarthy. "United Sword-2024A" in May 2024, giving a speech on Lai Qingte's inauguration. October "United Sword-2024B" responded to Lai Ching-te's "Double Ten" speech.

These military exercises are becoming more and more frequent and large in scale, involving the blockade of ports and the crackdown on land targets. In April 2025, there is also "Strait Thunder-2025A", which simulates the crackdown on Taiwan's energy facilities such as Kaohsiung LNG Station. Each military exercise tests joint combat capabilities and emphasizes military preparations for Taiwan.

The technical strength of the People's Liberation Army's "Far-fire"

Speaking of the star equipment in military exercises, the PHL-191 long-range rocket launcher, nicknamed "Full Fire", is definitely the focus. This rocket launcher was independently developed by the mainland and was equipped with the Eastern Theater Command Army. It has a long range, high accuracy and great power. Its chassis is a heavy-duty off-road vehicle, which is highly mobility and can quickly transfer positions. The launch module is box-type, integrated storage and transportation, and quick replacing of bullets.

There are various ammunitions, including 300mm, 370mm and 750mm. The 300mm ejection range is about 150 kilometers, which is used to saturate the beachhead positions; the 370mm ejection range is 300 kilometers, which accurately strikes targets in depth; the 750mm tactical missile has a range of 500 kilometers, and the warhead weighs 480 kilograms, which can destroy airports and fortifications.

With Beidou satellite navigation, the error is controlled within 30 meters, which is much more accurate than traditional rocket launchers. The average width of the Taiwan Strait is 230 kilometers, the narrowest is 125 kilometers, and the widest is 250 kilometers. The "far fire" can cover the entire island of Taiwan by launching from the coast of Fujian.

On the first day of the military exercise in August 2022, the Eastern Theater Command was tested on the coast of Fujian, and the rockets hit the predetermined sea target accurately. During the 2023 exercise, it was used many times to test the land strike.

Hong Kong media reported that this weapon fills the gap in mainland land-based firepower in the range of 100-500 kilometers and becomes the benchmark for long-range rocket launchers in the world. It is advanced than the Russian "tornado" and has a higher degree of informatization; it is longer than the US "Haimas" and has more ammunition types.

One shot is used for multiple purposes. In landing operations, first use cheap bullets to suppress the firepower points, then use precise bullets to destroy the depth fortifications, and finally use missiles to clear high-value targets. High efficiency and low cost. The Taiwan military is very concerned about this because it is difficult to intercept, and the Taiwan "Thunder 2000" rocket launcher has a short range and is not as accurate as it is.

US military intelligence has also assessed that "far-fire" can quickly paralyze the Taiwan military's airports and ports in the conflict in the Taiwan Strait. During the 2024 military exercise, "Fuanhuo" was linked to the Navy and Air Force to simulate a three-dimensional strike network. The exercise in April 2025 simulated the energy installation, showing its multi-domain application.

Hong Kong media analyzed that if the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are unified by force, "far-fire" will be the key weapon, but if they are peacefully reunified, it will be useless. Isn’t this the usual idea of ​​the mainland, peace is preferred, but there is no need to be prepared for any eventuality.

Peaceful reunification is the best choice between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait

Cross-strait reunification is a historical trend, but how to unify it is very important. The mainland has always emphasized that peaceful reunification and one country, two systems are most in line with the interests of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Hong Kong media often report that the mainland pursues a war without fighting and promotes unification through dialogue and negotiation.

The 2022 white paper "Taiwan Issue and the cause of China's reunification in the new era" reiterated that peaceful reunification is the first choice, and the option of retaining force is targeted at "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference. Cross-strait economic and trade ties are tight, with the trade volume exceeding US$260 billion in 2024, and Taiwan is dependent on mainland exports. Culturally, with the same roots and origins, more and more young Taiwanese come to study and work in the mainland.

Hong Kong media pointed out that if there is peace and unity, weapons like "Fargo Fire" do not need to be actually fought and stay in the warehouse to prepare for war. On the contrary, if "Taiwan independence" is stubborn and external forces intervene, the risk of conflict is high.

After Lai Ching-te came to power, he promoted the "two-state theory" in his speech, and the mainland responded to the shock of military exercises. Polls show that more than half of the people in Taiwan do not believe that they can stop the mainland's 100-day offensive, 65% are willing to fight to protect Taiwan, but 64% do not agree to the mainland's military unification.

Cross-strait dialogue has been interrupted for many years, and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council called for the resumption of communication. Hong Kong media commented that peaceful reunification can avoid the cost of war and allow the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to share the dividends of development. The mainland's GDP exceeds 17 trillion US dollars, military spending has steadily increased, and the People's Liberation Army has been modernizing rapidly.

Taiwan's economy has slowed down and the military expenditure is heavy. After reunification, Taiwan can participate in the "Belt and Road" and its economic takeoff. Hong Kong media stressed that peaceful reunification requires mutual trust between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and the Taiwan authorities should not rely on the United States and Japan to return to the "1992 Consensus."