March 18-25, 1996, in order to warn the US and the separatist elements of "Taiwan independence" of its stance on the Taiwan question, the PLA Nanjing Military Area Command organized a successful joint exercise participated by the PLA Army, Navy and Air Force in the Taiwan Strait, covering such subjects as combined landing, airborne landing and mountain battle. During the exercise, PLAN and PLAAF dispatched multiple types of warplanes, including Su-27SK, to test launch air-to-air, air-to-ground/warship missiles, casting a strong deterrent effect to the secessionist forces in Taiwan.