China launches surprise military drills around Taiwan

China has launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan, accusing its leaders of being "separatists" and "parasites" who were pushing the democratically run island into war. The drills, accompanied by a propaganda campaign, were launched without warning on Tuesday morning. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) said they were a "stern warning" to Taiwan's democratically elected government over what Beijing claims is separatist activity. Forces from the PLA Navy, Army and Rocket Force were approaching Taiwan from "multiple directions", said China's Eastern Theatre Command, which manages military operations in the region, on its official WeChat social media account. It said the drills…