Taiwan stock markets were unaffected by the drills, up 0.6% to a record high in morning trading. While the PLA practiced port blockades around Taiwan during war games last year, this marks the first time it has publicly stated that drills around the island are aimed at “deterrence” of outside military intervention. The first poster appeared to show the armada of civilian ships China is mobilising to help in an attack on Taiwan. Beijing regularly calls Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te a “parasite” and began using the cartoon green bug caricature to represent separatist forces during April’s war games. “I think their (China’s) goal is, as they said, ‘keep the island, not the people,’” said Stephanie Huang, a 56-year-old interior designer.

Source: Huffington Post December 29, 2025 10:40 UTC