KEY POINTS

  • The video was reposted by the Baoji Municipal Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
  • Though removed from Chinese streaming sites, copies soon appeared on Twitter and YouTube
  • Analysts think the video continues to exist "says something" about Beijing's intentions

China has taken its aggressive posturing toward its neighbors over disputed territories to an outrageous new level earlier this week when a video, purportedly posted on a channel approved by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), threatened to rain "continuous nuclear bombs" on Japan if the country intervened in the Taiwan issue.

According to a report by Fox News, the video warned Japan of "full-scale war," adding "we will use nuclear bombs first. We will use nuclear bombs continuously. We will do this until Japan declares unconditional surrender for the second time." Japan surrendered to the Allied power at the end of World War 2.

The overt use of nuclear threat is something unprecedented in how Beijing carries out its foreign policy. The video is not an official statement from Beijing, or in one of its media channels, but cyber experts say the fact that the video exists itself tells us something about Beijing's intentions. International Business Times could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

The 5-minute footage, created by military commentary channel 'Liujun Taolue,' was reposted to Chinese streaming platform Xigua by the Baoji Municipal Committee of the CCP, reported Taiwan News.

The video also proposes a 'Japan Exception Theory' that suggests China would make an exception to its 1964 policy of "no first use" of nuclear warfare against non-nuclear powers. The narrator added China will "liberate Taiwan," and warns against Japan deploying even "one soldier, one plane or one ship."

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province that it has vowed to reunite, if necessary with the use of force.

The video was deleted from Xigua after gaining 2 million views, but its copies appeared on YouTube and Twitter. It was also downloaded and posted by human rights activist Jennifer Zeng with English subtitles to her Twitter account.

Though the video was allegedly made by a military content creator, the fact that it was reposted by an official Chinese government account suggests Beijing's use of the local government account to share propaganda and intimidate its neighbors, say analysts.

"The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are allowing a posture to have a life, while also making it seem like it's not their official message," Tom Sear, a cyber propaganda and China expert from the University of New South Wales, told Australia-based ABC News.

"Of course China can't say that. That's a massive diplomatic incident if they were to do that, but if a fanboy does it, that appears like the voice of the people."

For a country that tightly control all media, the video "wouldn't be there to see if someone didn't want us to look at it." Sear said. "So, it's not an official statement by the CCP but the fact it isn't blocked or censored demonstrates a complicity, a passive endorsement," he told the news outlet.

The publication of the video comes as Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso stated that his country would need to defend Taiwan, with the United States, if it was invaded by China. "If a major incident happened (over Taiwan), it’s safe to say it would be related to a situation threatening the survival (of Japan). If that is the case, Japan and the U.S. must defend Taiwan together," Aso was quoted by Japan Times (paywall).

The comment angered Beijing which rebuked that Aso's remarks "harmed the political foundation of China-Japan relations".

Chinese troops take part in marching drills ahead of an October 1 military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China
File picture of Chinese troops taking part in marching drills. POOL / WANG ZHAO