China Shows Off Weapons State TV Airs Extensive Footage Of Military Exercises

In a bristling display of military muscle and nationalistic ardor before Saturday’s presidential election in Taiwan, China’s state television Wednesday aired extensive footage of its military exercises in the Taiwan Strait.

Against a background of roaring missiles and soldiers chanting their willingness to die for the motherland, China displayed its latest weaponry in action with a fleet of target ships in international waters west of Taiwan. A squadron of modern Su-27 fighters fired air-to-ground missiles while bombers released their payloads and warships unleashed torpedoes.

“Imagine Mount Taishan falling on your head,” the China Central Television announcer said as dozens of bombs fell toward their targets in the roiling sea.

The rare public display of military might, broadcast across China on the main evening news program, was the latest element in China’s propaganda campaign to intimidate voters in Taiwan.

Last week, the national television network, which is regularly monitored by TV stations in Taiwan, showed four medium-range missiles being fired to targets near the Taiwan coast. If the campaign continues according to script, a final broadcast can be expected later this week, possibly showing an amphibious landing on the chain of islands of China’s eastern coast, where another round of military exercises is under way through March 25.

The latest exercises, around Haitan Island off China’s Fujian Province, suffered a setback Wednesday as fog and rain enveloped much of the coast.

How much China’s military posturing will affect the vote in Taiwan’s first presidential election will not be known until Saturday. China, which has vowed to invade Taiwan if the island declares independence from the mainland, is hoping the margin of victory of the expected winner, Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, will be less than 50 percent of the total.