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China stages military drills off coast of Taiwan as a ‘stern warning’

Chinese military plane. Photo: Taiwan Ministry of Defence/AP

Chinese military plane. Photo: Taiwan Ministry of Defence/AP

Joe Cash, Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard

Today at 03:30

China staged military drills off Taiwan’s north, south and east coasts yesterday 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, follow a rise in Chinese rhetoric against Lai and come following US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Asia visit, during which he repeatedly criticised Beijing.

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