China launches military drills around Taiwan, calls Taiwan president a 'parasite'

 China staged military drills off Taiwan's north, south and east coasts on Tuesday 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 on the heels of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Asia visit, during which he repeatedly criticised Beijing.