It looks a bit like a video game.

A barrage of missiles are launched from mainland China and as they streak across the sky,

criss-crossing with more waves of missiles coming in from the sea, you have to imagine

the chaos and destruction they'd cause when they finally landed on the island of Taiwan.

But it's not all just a simulation.

In other footage, fighter jets take off and we're given a view from the cockpit as they fly

high above the imagined conflict zone.

The war isn't real yet, but the threat certainly is.

All of this footage was released early this month by the Chinese People's Liberation Army

as they carried out training exercises showing how they could blockade neighboring Taiwan.

Another warning from the superpower as they begin what they described as three days of

combat readiness patrols in the Taiwan straits.

The exercises were just the latest in ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.

They were rapidly followed by the Chinese President Xi Jinping announcing that the country's

army is ready to fight.

These drills may not have been as big as others, but China says it's ready to smash any form

of Taiwanese independence.

So what is going on?

Could China invade Taiwan?

You could squeeze and then relax the pressure you're applying fairly easily at will.

And in doing so, put pressure on Taiwan but also test the international political reaction.

You're listening to stories of our times from the Times and the Sunday Times.

...