China has released a cartoon depicting Taiwan's president as a parasite held by chopsticks to be cooked over a fire - as Beijing's armed forces have surrounded the island in a show of strength.
Its military released a series of propaganda videos in quick succession, depicting Chinese warships and fighter jets encircling Taiwan, Taipei being aimed at from above, and military vehicles patrolling city streets.
A video of a poster accompanying the drills titled 'Closing In,' and showing Chinese forces surrounding the island, was released on the Eastern Theatre Command's Weibo.
This was followed by a video titled 'Shell', depicting president Lai Ching-te as a green cartoon bug spawning parasites across the island, on the Eastern Theatre Command's WeChat page.
'Parasite poisoning Taiwan island. Parasite hollowing Island out. Parasite courting ultimate destruction,' the animation said.
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said such rhetoric was not conducive to peace and 'shows their provocative character,' when asked about Lai's cartoon depiction.
The propaganda videos were posted alongside an announcement by the Eastern Theatre of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), which said it conducted drills in waters to the north, south and east of Taiwan on Tuesday.
As many as 19 warships surrounded the democratically-governed isl...
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