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 launched massive surprise military drills around Taiwan days after the US defense secretary on a trip to Asia pledged to counter Chinese “aggression.”

With warships and a barrage of propaganda, the Chinese military launched large-scale military drills on Tuesday to protest Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s increasingly forceful rejection of Beijing’s claim to rule the self-governed island democracy.