China launches large-scale military drills around Taiwan and calls its president a ‘parasite’

China’s military says it has begun joint army, navy and rocket force exercises around Taiwan. It said the exercises were intended to “serve as a stern warning and powerful deterrent against Taiwanese independence”, and called the self-governed island’s president a “parasite”. China considers Taiwan to be its own territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Image: A poster accompanying the drills titled ‘Closing In’. Pic: Eastern Theater Command Its military released a poster showing Chinese ships and fighter jets circling the island titled “Closing In” and featuring the words “sinister moves of Taiwan separatists…