China describes military exercises around Taiwan as a warning to ‘separatist forces’

China has launched military exercises around Taiwan, describing them as a warning to “separatist forces” and referring to the self-governing island’s president as a parasite. The drills, which included army, navy, air and rocket forces and the coastguard, took place in the northern, southern and eastern waters around Taiwan.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s Eastern Theater Command said the forces would close in on the island from multiple directions and practise assaulting targets on land and sea and blockading key areas and sea lanes. The command, which is responsible for China’s military operations in the Taiwan Strait, said the exercises would also involve training for “multidirectional precision strikes” around Taiwan.

“This is a stern warning and a strong deterrent to the separatist forces of ‘Taiwan independence’, and is a legitimate and necessary a...
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