The Southern Theater Command of China's People's Liberation Army, which oversees the South China Sea and all of southern Taiwan, released a rap video titled "Don't act arrogant (別太狂)" on its official social media (SNS) account. Some analysts said the video "targets" Japan and others, with diplomatic relations rapidly deteriorating recently.
On the 19th (local time), the Southern Theater Command Air Force posted a 36-second video on its official WeChat account showing flight and live-fire training and a service member rapping at high speed. The title of the video translates into Korean as roughly "Don't act arrogant" or "Don't run wild."
The song includes lyrics such as "I, together with the fighter jet, will shoot you down with a perfect air strike. I guard the southwestern airspace," and "Enemies, don't act arrogant. This is skill forged by harsh training and precision flying—do you think we will let you run wild here?"
In the latter part, it says, "If you don't listen when we speak nicely, you will have to drink 'punishment liquor (罰酒),'" adding, "It would be better to raise your hands and surrender quietly."
The Southern Theater Command did not specify an opponent in the video. However, it appears to have produced this content for external propaganda aimed at potential adversaries.
The Southern Theater Command Air Force oversees operations in the South China Sea and is tasked with defending the southwestern airspace, including the southern waters of southern Taiwan and Guangdong and Fujian.
While the Taiwan Strait is typically under the Eastern Theater Command's jurisdiction, the Southern Theater Command also sorties during aerial standoffs with the Taiwan Air Force and for operations south of the Taiwan Strait.
With tensions rising between China and Japan over the East China Sea and Taiwan, some analysis suggests that this show-of-force video may indirectly be aimed at Japan.
After Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on the 7th that a "Taiwan contingency" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" allowing Japan to exercise collective self-defense, China has been pressuring Japan daily, urging the withdrawal of and apology for the remarks and demanding an explanation.