New Delhi: Chinese State broadcaster CCTV has released a documentary showcasing the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) readiness to attack Taiwan and its soldiers taking a pledge of allegiance. The eight-part docuseries titled Chasing Dreams was released last week to mark the 96th anniversary of the PLA’s founding, and shows off the force’s combat preparedness. In addition to military drills, it includes testimonials by soldiers who say they are ready to lay down their lives in the event of an armed conflict with Taiwan.
While Taiwan sees itself as a separate and democratic state, China claims the island as its territory under the ‘One China’ policy.
The Associated Press reported that this docuseries also displays the PLA’s ‘Joint Sword’ drills — held in April 2023 to simulate a precision strike against Taiwan. The exercise came in the wake of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the United States, during which she met House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The documentary series presents a picture of the PLA’s operating scenarios, such as establishing air dominance, sea control, and information technology suppression before an amphibious landing can be launched, reported South China Morning Post.
In April last year, the commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Fleet had told the publication that with China learning from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a “timeframe of mainland China’s possible attempt to take Taiwan by force was unpredictable”.
A key highlight of the docuseries was a series of testimonials by PLA soldiers affirming their commitment to lay down their lives, if needed, during a potential attack on Taiwan. “If war broke out and the conditions were too difficult to safely remove the naval mines in actual combat, we would use our own bodies to clear a safe pathway for our (landing) forces,” says Zuo Feng, a frogman with PLA Navy’s minesweeper unit, as reported by Voice of America.
In another testimonial, Li Peng, a J-20 pilot from the PLA Air Force’s (PLAAF) ace unit Wang Hai Squadron, said his “fighter jet would be the last missile rushing towards the enemy if in a real battle, I had used up all my ammunition”, reported ABC News.
The docuseries also features Shandong, one of China’s three indigenous aircraft carriers.
Over the past few months, the PLA has deployed Shandong to the Taiwan Strait on multiple occasions. Chinese jets too have entered Taiwan’s defence zone many times in the past with an objective to assess and stress Taipei’s ageing fighter jet fleet.
Just last month, the PLA sent 13 aircraft and six vessels into Taiwan’s airspace and waters during US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s visit to Beijing. Despite not recognising Taiwan as a sovereign state, the US has promised to aid the island in defending itself in the event of an invasion.
The documentary series reiterates that “the centennial goal of the PLA must be realised” and includes the personal accounts of several PLA troops from various services deployed across geographies.
Also Read: China’s new strategy for Taiwan-US meet–show Xi as peacemaker, not rile up domestic protesters
‘Preparing for that day’
According to reports, the documentary features a 27-year-old PLA soldier, Li Yuantong, saying, “If there is a day I could really feel proud of myself, I think it would be when our country is reunified”. The documentary claims that Li is the youngest PLAAF air mission commander and has invented a “double-bombing” technique to destroy underground targets.
Another soldier who features in the docuseries is Wang Xinjie, a member of the PLA amphibious assault group, who is shown practising the group charge towards a beach in an amphibious vehicle, with fire cover from bombers, land and ship-launched missiles, rockets and helicopters.
Reports quote Wang saying, “I would like to go and see the other side of the strait. I have been preparing for that day.”
The documentary series, according to military analyst Song Zhongping, was made to demonstrate the PLA’s confidence in facing the Taiwanese armed forces, but it also contained messages for the US, reported SCMP.
In July this year, the US announced a weapons aid package of $345 million for Taiwan, which includes four unarmed MQ-9A reconnaissance drones, besides man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS). The US Congress in its budget for FY 2023-24 approved up to $1 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority defence aid for Taiwan.
Ties between Taiwan and China have worsened following then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island in August 2022.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: US gets tougher on Beijing. Defense bill for Taiwan, blacklists 36 Chinese companies