China stages military drills to encircle Taiwan, labels President Lai a 'parasite'

Beijing has escalated its deployment of fighter planes and navy vessels around Taiwan in recent years to underline its sovereignty claim, which Taipei denies read more China's military claimed on Tuesday that it has dispatched its army, navy, air, and rocket forces to surround Taiwan for manoeuvres intended at practicing a blockade of the self-ruled island, referring to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-Te as a "parasite". China maintains that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to take control of the island. Beijing has escalated its deployment of fighter planes and navy vessels around Taiwan…