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.”

China held military exercises around Taiwan that involved the most naval vessels in nearly a year — a move that comes days after the US vowed to deter Beijing’s aggression in the region.The Chinese military launched drills Tuesday “from multiple directions,

Ms Zhao, who calls herself “Xiaowei” online, often posts videos featuring a large Chinese flag, saying things such as: “Come on, my fellow Taiwanese, let’s unite and go home together!!!” She is one of three social-media influencers—all of them women from the Chinese mainland who had married Taiwanese men—who were told in March they were no longer welcome to live on the island.

The drills came after Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, announced measures to counter China’s influence and espionage. Beijing also wants to send a message to Washington, analysts said.

China staged military drills off Taiwan's north, south and east coasts 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.

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,

The Chinese military held drills around Taiwan as a "severe warning" and a signal of "forceful containment against Taiwan independence."