China tells Japan it’s ready for war in fiery propaganda

The video, titled "If war breaks out today, this is my response," was produced by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, the military branch responsible for all missiles, and includes dramatic clips of fighter jets and warships.

The footage was made just two weeks after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan.

Shortly afterward, a Chinese diplomat in Japan gestured that he should be beheaded, sparking a diplomatic crisis.

Chinese officials have repeatedly asked Ms. Takaichi to retract her comments, but the self-proclaimed Iron Lady, who hails Margaret Thatcher as a heroine, has not.

China has issued military threats, leading to the cancellation of flights between the two countries. The explosive video – which does not explicitly mention Japan – but is being seen as a threat to its Asian neighbor, was made on the same day that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi publicly spoke out about Ms. Takaichi's comments, becoming the most senior Beijing official to comment on the issue.

He said these remarks were "a red line that should not be touched" and that it was "shocking for a current Japanese leader to openly send the wrong signal by attempting to militarily interfere in Taiwan's affairs."

Mr. Wang added: "China must respond resolutely – not only to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also to protect the hard-won gains made with blood and sacrifice after the war."

The PLA propaganda video was published with an English caption and shared by China's English-language state media, indicating that the clip was intended for an international audience, not just domestic ones.

In keeping with the PLA's traditional style, the video reads more like a Hollywood movie trailer than a demonstration of military capabilities, interspersing footage from China's massive military parade in September with clips of ground-based missiles.

All of this was set against the backdrop of a military song called "If War Breaks Out Today," which features lyrics about war preparation and mobilization and has previously been used in Rocket Force propaganda.

But on Sunday, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said his country was moving forward with plans to deploy missiles on Yonaguni Island to "reduce the possibility of a weapons attack."

The island is the closest point between Japan and Taiwan—just 67 miles away. According to Kyodo News, Japan plans to deploy a unit equipped with the Type-03 medium-range surface-to-air missile, which can intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles.

Beijing frequently publishes videos showcasing its military capabilities, especially during special occasions when it wants to send a message.

In 2022, a day before then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan for an official visit, China's Eastern Theater Command released a video showing soldiers preparing for an attack, similar to the video released on Sunday.

When Ms. Pelosi arrived in Taiwan, she became the most senior US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. China strongly condemned the visit, calling it "crazy, irresponsible, and reckless," and increased its military exercises around Taiwan.