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.

China's military on Tuesday announced it was conducting joint army, naval and rocket force exercises around Taiwan in a statement on the Eastern Theater Command's official WeChat social media account.

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 surprise military exercises in the sea and skies around Taiwan on Tuesday in what the People's Liberation Army said was a "stern warning" to the island's "separatist" government and those

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."