China launches military drills around Taiwan and calls its president a parasite

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 US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Asia visit, during which he repeatedly criticized Beijing.China’s military deployed ships, aircraft and artillery to practise blockading the island, strikes on ground and maritime targets, and air interception to “test forces’ coordination in combat,” Beijing’s Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement.Last May, three days after Lai’s inauguration, Chinese forces staged war games to simulate seizing full control of areas west of the so-called first island chain and conducted live-fire missile exercises.China considers democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and calls Lai a “separatist.” In a video accompanying its announcement, the Eastern Theatre Command called him a “parasite” in English and depicted him as a green bug held by chopsticks over a burning Taiwan.Taiwan’s government condemned the drills, with the presidential office saying China was “widely recognized by the international community as a troublemaker” and that the government has the confidence and ability to defend itself.Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.Two senior Taiwan officials told Reuters that more than 10 Chinese military ships had approached close to Taiwan’s 24 nautical miles contiguous zone and Taiwan sent its own warships to respond.Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had not detected any live fire by the Chinese military but that at least 71 Chinese military aircraft and 13 navy ships were involved.It ad...