On Tuesday, the Chinese military announced it had launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan, involving its army, navy, air force, and rocket forces. These exercises were described as a “stern warning” and a “forceful deterrence” against what China sees as Taiwan’s push for independence.

BEIJING (Kyodo) -- China said Tuesday it has launched military drills around Taiwan that serve as a "stern warning and forceful deterrence" against those seeking the island's independence, ratcheting up tensions and slamming its leader Lai Ching-te for his government's "blatant provocations."

The Chinese military said Tuesday it had launched joint exercises involving its army, navy, air force and rocket force around Taiwan as a “stern warning,” days after US defense chief Pete Hegseth vowed to counter “China’s aggression” on his first visit to Asia.

China's military on Wednesday launched military exercises code-named "Strait Thunder-2025A" in the middle and southern areas of the Taiwan Strait, continuing drills begun the previous day. A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters there were more than 10 Chinese warships in Taiwan's "response zone" on Wednesday morning,

China launched massive surprise military drills around Taiwan days after the US defense secretary on a trip to Asia pledged to counter Chinese “aggression.” Beijing said its army, navy, and air forces surrounding Taiwan was a “stern warning” to the self-ruling island’s leaders — which Chinese state media called “parasites” who were seeking independence for Taiwan,

STORY: China launched large scale military exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday, and called the island's president Lai Ching Te a "parasite courting ultimate destruction".:: PLA Eastern Theater CommandIn a video accompanying China's Eastern Theater Command's announcement of the drills,