China Launches Missile Tests to Intimidate Democratic Taiwan

On July 21, 1995, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched the first of six DF-15 ballistic missiles into the waters approximately 130 kilometers north of Taiwan, initiating an unprecedented campaign of military intimidation against the democratic island.

Military Operations

The missile tests from July 21-28 marked a dangerous escalation:

Missile Details

• Six DF-15 (M-9) short-range ballistic missiles
• Range: 600 kilometers
• Impact zone: 90 miles north of Keelung
• Clear demonstration of ability to strike Taiwan

Accompanying Exercises

• Naval exercises in East China Sea
• Air force drills over Fujian Province
• Ground forces mobilization
• Electronic warfare operations

Authoritarian Logic

Beijing’s military coercion reflected classic authoritarian behavior:

1. Punishment for Defiance - Retaliation for Lee’s Cornell visit
2. Intimidation Tactics - Force democracy to submit
3. Domestic Messaging - Show CCP strength to Chinese public
4. International Warning - Deter support for Taiwan

Democratic Resilience

Taiwan’s response demonstrated democratic maturity:

Government Response

• President Lee condemned “irrational saber-rattling”
• Military placed on alert but avoided provocation
• Diplomatic protests lodged internationally
• Reassured public through transparent communication

Public Reaction

• Initial stock market drop of 4.2%
• No panic buying or social disorder
• Media provided comprehensive coverage
• Democracy rallied against external threat

International Alarm

United States

• State Department expressed “grave concern”
• Pentagon increased surveillance
• Subtle naval movements initiated
• Private warnings delivered to Beijing

Regional Response

• Japan elevated defense readiness
• Philippines expressed concern
• Singapore called for restraint
• Financial markets showed nervousness

PLA’s Calculated Gamble

The military action revealed Beijing’s strategic thinking:

Objectives

1. Deter Independence - Show military costs of separation
2. Influence Elections - Intimidate voters before 1996 election
3. Test U.S. Resolve - Gauge American commitment
4. Demonstrate Capability - Show modernized PLA strength

Risks Accepted

• International condemnation
• Economic disruption
• Strengthening Taiwan resolve
• U.S. military response

Propaganda Campaign

China’s state media launched coordinated attacks:

• Lee Teng-hui labeled “scum of the nation”
• Taiwan democracy called “chaos and disorder”
• Military action framed as “defending sovereignty”
• No dissenting voices permitted

Economic Warfare

Beyond missiles, Beijing applied economic pressure:

• Suspended Taiwan investment approvals
• Delayed cross-strait shipping
• Threatened broader economic sanctions
• Used business community to pressure Taipei

Strategic Miscalculation

Beijing’s authoritarian mindset led to errors:

Misreading Democracy

• Expected fear to change Taiwan policies
• Didn’t understand democratic resilience
• Underestimated identity consolidation effect
• Misjudged international sympathy for democracy

Counterproductive Results

• Strengthened Taiwan’s separate identity
• Increased U.S. security commitment
• Accelerated Taiwan military modernization
• Generated regional concerns about China

Escalation Dynamics

The July tests set a dangerous pattern:

1. Action-Reaction Cycle - Each side’s moves prompted escalation
2. Military Signaling - Force replaced dialogue
3. Domestic Politics - Both sides faced internal pressures
4. International Involvement - External powers drawn in

Democracy Under Fire

The missile tests highlighted a fundamental truth:

• Authoritarian regimes use force when influence fails
• Democratic societies rely on legitimacy and law
• Military coercion often backfires against democracies
• International opinion matters to democratic states

Historical Parallel

The 1995 missile tests echoed past authoritarian aggression:

• 1958: Mao’s shelling of Kinmen
• Same goal: Force submission through fear
• Different context: Taiwan now a democracy
• Different result: Strengthened rather than weakened resolve

Beijing’s missile diplomacy demonstrated the CCP’s inability to accept Taiwan’s democratic transformation, resorting to military intimidation when faced with a society that derived its legitimacy from popular sovereignty rather than historical claims or military might.