A ship fires a weapon during drills east of Taiwan, in this screenshot from a video released by the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army. That particular drill is designed to move troops swiftly in case China suddenly turns one of its drills around the island into an attack. Taiwan rejects China's claimed sovereignty, maintaining that only its people can decide the island's future. 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.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 29, 2025 05:13 UTC