Chinese Air Force Video Shows Major H-6 Bomber Strike on Guam-Resembling Island

China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force has released a video showing a simulated attack by H-6 medium bombers on an Island closely resembling the American held Pacific territory of Guam. This comes at a time of high tensions with both the United States and Taiwan, and amid a growth of the U.S. military presence in the Western Pacific region. Guam is a major hub for American military operations in East Asia, housing both Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base Guam and soon to house major facilities for the U.S. Marines as well. The ability to target Guam has been highly prized by China and North Korea, both of which have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to do so using ballistic missiles such as the Hwasong-12 and DF-26. China’s access to long range attack submarines and H-6 bombers, however, provides options for more diverse kinds of attacks. 

Titled 'The god of war H-6K goes on the attack', the PLA’s new video showed H-6 bombers taking off from a desert base and subsequently firing cruise missiles to target airfields on an island territory. "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 PLA Air Force wrote in a brief description provide with the video. China today fields more bombers than any other country, with over 270 H-6 platforms in service and deploying a wide range of new cruise and ballistic missile classes such as the very fast YJ-12 anti-ship platform and the very long ranged CJ-20 land-attack platform. H-6 bombers have carried out exercises simulating strikes on Guam in the past, which the territory's defences are not thought to be adequate to counter particularly if carried out alongside ballistic missile attacks. The H-6 is expected to be supplemented by the stealthier and longer ranged H-20 platform, which will provide the option of striking targets on the U.S. mainland not only with cruise missiles but also with heavy guided bombs which are ideal for penetrating fortified installations.