China’s Video Simulates Attack on U.S. Base: Report
BEIJING (Dispatches) -- China’s air force has released a video showing nuclear-capable H-6 bombers carrying out a simulated attack on what appears to be Andersen Air Force Base on the U.S. Pacific island of Guam, as regional tensions continue to rise.
The video, released on Saturday on People’s Liberation Army Air Force Weibo account, came as China carried out a second day of drills near Chinese-claimed Taiwan, to express Beijing’s anger at the visit of a senior U.S. State Department official to Taipei.
Guam is home to major U.S. military facilities, including the air base, which would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia Pacific region.
The Chinese air force’s two minute and 15 second video, shows H-6 bombers taking off from a desert base. The video is called "The god of war H-6K goes on the attack!”
Collin Koh, a research fellow at Singapore’s Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, said the video was aimed at highlighting China’s growing prowess in long-range power projection.
"The video is meant to warn the Americans that even supposedly safe, rearward positions such as Guam may come under threat when conflicts over regional flashpoints, be it Taiwan or South China Sea, erupt,” he said.
The H-6 has been involved in multiple Chinese flights around and near Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s air force, including those last week. The H-6K is the latest model of the bomber, which is based on the 1950s vintage Soviet Tu-16.
China on Monday described any support for Taiwan’s secession as "doomed to fail”, and threatened retaliation against U.S. diplomatic visits to the island.
The island is a flashpoint with Washington, which promises military support to the recalcitrant territory and has sent two envoys to Taipei in as many months.
At a press briefing Monday, the foreign ministry said that the envoys’ visits were a "political provocation” and threatened retaliation.
"China will take appropriate countermeasures, including targeting relevant individuals,” said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, without elaborating.
He warned that the U.S. actions will "further damage the cooperation” between the U.S. and China. Wang added that any support for Taiwan’s independence is a "dead end... doomed to fail”.
Washington’s increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump is among a catalogue of sore points with Beijing as the countries clash over issues including trade, security and the coronavirus pandemic.
The U.S. Undersecretary of State for economic growth, energy and the environment Keith Krach wrapped up a trip to Taiwan at the weekend, following on the heels of a trip by U.S. health chief Alex Azar in August.
The video, released on Saturday on People’s Liberation Army Air Force Weibo account, came as China carried out a second day of drills near Chinese-claimed Taiwan, to express Beijing’s anger at the visit of a senior U.S. State Department official to Taipei.
Guam is home to major U.S. military facilities, including the air base, which would be key to responding to any conflict in the Asia Pacific region.
The Chinese air force’s two minute and 15 second video, shows H-6 bombers taking off from a desert base. The video is called "The god of war H-6K goes on the attack!”
Collin Koh, a research fellow at Singapore’s Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies, said the video was aimed at highlighting China’s growing prowess in long-range power projection.
"The video is meant to warn the Americans that even supposedly safe, rearward positions such as Guam may come under threat when conflicts over regional flashpoints, be it Taiwan or South China Sea, erupt,” he said.
The H-6 has been involved in multiple Chinese flights around and near Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s air force, including those last week. The H-6K is the latest model of the bomber, which is based on the 1950s vintage Soviet Tu-16.
China on Monday described any support for Taiwan’s secession as "doomed to fail”, and threatened retaliation against U.S. diplomatic visits to the island.
The island is a flashpoint with Washington, which promises military support to the recalcitrant territory and has sent two envoys to Taipei in as many months.
At a press briefing Monday, the foreign ministry said that the envoys’ visits were a "political provocation” and threatened retaliation.
"China will take appropriate countermeasures, including targeting relevant individuals,” said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, without elaborating.
He warned that the U.S. actions will "further damage the cooperation” between the U.S. and China. Wang added that any support for Taiwan’s independence is a "dead end... doomed to fail”.
Washington’s increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump is among a catalogue of sore points with Beijing as the countries clash over issues including trade, security and the coronavirus pandemic.
The U.S. Undersecretary of State for economic growth, energy and the environment Keith Krach wrapped up a trip to Taiwan at the weekend, following on the heels of a trip by U.S. health chief Alex Azar in August.