Chinese air force video shows apparent simulated attack on US base in Guam

The Chinese air force has released a video showing an apparent simulated attack on a U.S. Air Force base on Guam amid increased tensions between Beijing and Washington.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s Weibo account released the video on Saturday as China completed a second day of drills near Taiwan in opposition to a visit to the Chinese-claimed island by senior U.S. State Department officials, Reuters reported. 

The video, which lasts for 2 minutes and 15 seconds, is entitled “The god of war H-6K goes on the attack!”

While solemn music plays, the video shows H-6 bombers taking off from a base before a pilot presses a button, sending a missile at a runway that resembles one at Andersen Air Force Base.

The music stops, as the simulated video shows the ground shaking and an aerial view of an explosion. 

“We are the defenders of the motherland’s aerial security; we have the confidence and ability to always defend the security of the motherland’s skies,” the air force wrote in a description for the video, Reuters noted. 

China’s Eastern Theatre Command, which would head any attack on Taiwan, also released a video on Monday entitled “What if war broke out today?” The video showed soldiers running over hills and ballistic missiles being launched, according to the news service.  

The words “Motherland, I swear I will fight for you until my death!” appear on screen in Chinese characters at the end of the video, it added.

Guam is the home of several additional U.S. military facilities that would be involved in any Asia-Pacific conflict. 

Taiwan’s air force reported that China has sent H-6 bombers on flights around and near the island. Last week, China sent 18 planes over the Taiwan Strait as a show of force.

China flew the planes as U.S. Under Secretary of State Keith Krach held meetings in Taiwan and became the most senior State Department official to visit Taiwan in 40 years. The meetings came as the Trump administration has made moves to improve relations with Taiwan, including with arms sales. 

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar also traveled to Taiwan in August, despite disapproval from Chinese officials.