In response to the increasingly growing military threat from the Chinese Communist Party, the U.S. and Taiwan navies conducted a non-public joint exercise in the Pacific in April this year. The exercise was dubbed “Unplanned Encounter.”
According to a report from Reuters on Tuesday, citing four anonymous sources, the exercise took place quietly last month in the Western Pacific. Such exercises are referred to as “unplanned encounters,” implying that both sides claim the exercises were just accidental encounters. Due to the sensitivity of the information, the sources requested to remain anonymous.
It is reported that about six naval vessels, including frigates, supply ships, and support vessels, participated in the exercise lasting for several days. These exercises aimed to practice basic operations such as communication, refueling, and replenishment.
Sources mentioned that while the “unplanned encounters” between the two naval forces mainly involved basic exercises, such drills are crucial in ensuring both militaries can cooperate in emergency situations.
In a statement issued to Reuters, the Taiwan Navy mentioned that in order to respond to maritime emergencies and minimize “mutual interference” at sea, they operate in accordance with the U.S.-led Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES). The statement also highlighted that the Taiwan Navy frequently interacts with naval vessels from other countries and conducts encounter exercises as needed.
The CUES was adopted at the 2014 Western Pacific Naval Symposium to help alleviate maritime military tensions, providing guidelines on safety distances and speeds, common communication protocols, and actions to take in case of vessel malfunctions.
With the increased provocative military actions by the Chinese Communist Party towards Taiwan, the U.S. and Taiwan have been expanding their military cooperation in recent years through exchanges and exercises. However, to avoid triggering overly aggressive reactions from the CCP, both sides usually maintain a low profile on such matters. This kind of cooperation often goes unconfirmed officially.
Admiral John Aquilino, the newly appointed Indo-Pacific Command Commander, attended a handover ceremony in Hawaii on May 3, where General Mei Jian-Shu, the Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of China, was also present by invitation. This news was not released in advance and was only reported by the media after the official photos were made public.