Chinese state TV has shown a chilling video of a simulated full-scale attack on Taiwan as Beijing’s forces practiced sealing off the island. Beijing’s military has been conducting three days of exercises around the self-governing island which it regards as being part of its territory.
According to a report from TheSun, The war games saw Beijing simulate targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, including “sealing” it off, while dozens of planes had practiced an “aerial blockade”.
A video released by Chinese state TV on its news program shows warships and planes circling Taiwan. It then goes on to show an animated sequence showing missiles raining down on Taiwan.
The simulated attack on the island also has missiles being fired from planes and shows them causing large explosions as they smash to earth.
Another video shows missiles on the mainland being readied for launching in a chilling warning to the island.
China’s latest military actions follow President Tsai Ing-wen’s delicate diplomatic mission in which she met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.
“The troops in the theatre are ready to fight all the time and can fight at any time, resolutely crushing any form of Taiwan independence separatism and foreign interference,” said China’s People’s Liberation in a statement.
The exercises this time have focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting 200 flights by Chinese warplanes in the past three days.
Analysts said it was likely some of the jets had come from China’s Shandong aircraft carrier – one of two it possesses – which is currently deployed about 200 miles from Taiwan.
Taiwan has tracked the Shandong since last week in the Pacific Ocean. It has repeatedly said it will respond calmly to China’s drills and not provoke conflict.
The PLA confirmed on Monday in a statement that the Shandong had “participated” in Monday’s exercises. It said fighter planes loaded with live ammunition had “carried out multiple waves of simulated strikes on important targets”.
