China conducts military exercises near Taiwan, labeling its president a ‘parasite’

On Tuesday, China commenced joint exercises involving its army, navy, and rocket forces near Taiwan, issuing a “stern warning” against separatism and labeling Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a “parasite,” while Taiwan deployed warships to counter China’s naval presence near its shores.

The drills surrounding the democratically governed island, which China considers its own territory and has never ruled out using force to gain control, follow Lai’s recent description of Beijing as a “foreign hostile force.”

China despises Lai as a “separatist,” and in a video that accompanied the Eastern Theatre Command’s announcement of the exercises, he was shown as a cartoon insect grasped by chopsticks over a flaming Taiwan, referred to in English as a “parasite.”

Taiwan’s administration criticized the exercises, with the presidential office stating that China is “widely regarded by the global community as a provocateur” and that the government possesses the confidence and capability to protect itself.

Taiwan’s administration dismisses Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, asserting that only the island’s citizens can determine their destiny. Two high-ranking Taiwanese officials informed Reuters that over 10 Chinese naval vessels had come near Taiwan’s 24 nautical mile (44 km) contiguous zone, prompting Taiwan to dispatch its own warships to react.

Nonetheless, one of the officials stated that Taiwan has not observed any live fire from the Chinese military.

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry announced that China’s Shandong aircraft carrier group entered the island’s response zone on Monday, stating it had deployed military aircraft and vessels while activating land-based missile systems in reaction. The exercises occurred after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth departed the area after visiting Japan and the Philippines, where he condemned China and remarked that Japan was “essential” in addressing Chinese hostility.