China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has released an unsettling video simulating a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, which it considers a renegade province. The footage, released on Friday, May 24, coincides with the PLA's two-day "Joint Sword-2024A" military exercises in the waters and airspace surrounding the self-governing island.
The 70-second 3D simulation animation depicts a coordinated assault by Chinese warships, warplanes, and missiles, accompanied by a chilling narration: "Destroy the support pillars! Strike the base camp! Cut the blood vessels!" The video paints a grim picture, showing military aircraft and vessels converging on Taiwan from the north, south, and east, while also highlighting the presence of PLA forces around the Kinmen, Wuqiu, Matsu, and Dongyin islands.
Video: Eastern Theater Command
The clip indicates the comprehensive involvement of the PLA's army, navy, air force, and rocket force in the drills. It opens with CCTV News footage showcasing the deployment of fighter jets, bombers, warships, and missile preparation. This is followed by a barrage of animated missiles raining down on Taipei, Hualien, and Kaohsiung, obliterating the cities.
A separate 30-second video released by the PLA simulates bombers approaching from the east and naval vessels encircling Taiwan from the northwest, northeast, southeast, and southwest. As the warships and warplanes close in on all sides, the island is shown flashing a county-wide red alert, with an alarm siren blaring.
The release of these videos comes amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei, as China continues to assert its claim over the self-ruled island. While the PLA has described the exercises as "routine" and aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, the simulated invasion footage has raised concerns about the potential for escalation in the region.
