China launches military drills around Taiwan, calls its president a 'parasite'

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/31952507

• China's military says drills are a warning against Taiwan independence
• China's military video calls Taiwan president a 'parasite'
• Lai depiction 'not conducive to peace', says Taiwan
• Taiwan dispatches military aircraft, ships in response
• De facto US embassy in Taipei pledges support for Taiwan

China staged military drills off Taiwan's north, south and east coasts on Tuesday as a "stern warning" against separatism and called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a "parasite," as Taiwan sent warships to respond to China's navy approaching its shores.

The exercises, which China has not formally named unlike war games last year, are happening after a rise in Chinese rhetoric against Lai and follow on the heels of U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's Asia visit, during which he repeatedly criticised Beijing.

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