The Chinese People's Liberation Army's recent exercise around Taiwan serves as a stern deterrence against separatist activities in Taiwan and external interference, a mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday, stressing that it is a necessary and justified defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
At a press conference held by the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, spokeswoman Zhang Han responded to a media question regarding the "Justice Mission 2025" joint drills conducted by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the Taiwan region since Monday.
The PLA launched a series of drills in the Taiwan Strait and waters to the north, southwest, southeast, and east of the island, dispatching troops from its ground, air, naval and rocket forces to deter separatist forces in Taiwan and external interference.
"The PLA's military operations constitute a stern warning and deterrence against Taiwan separatist forces and external interference, representing a necessary and justified defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Lai Ching-te authorities in Taiwan, in their pursuit of separation, have resorted to unprincipled foreign appeasement and are recklessly 'selling out' the island. They sacrifice Taiwan's economic development and public welfare to collude with external forces in order to split Taiwan from China, provoke conflict, and pursue militarization. Such actions severely undermine cross-Strait relations, pose a grave threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and harm the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the immediate interests of our compatriots in Taiwan. We have zero tolerance for any separatist activities, offer no leniency, and will strike back resolutely," said Zhang.
"Taiwan is part of China. Any external forces attempting to interfere in the Taiwan question and meddle in China's internal affairs are doomed to be met with the powerful strength of the Chinese PLA. The historical trend toward national reunification is unstoppable. No one should underestimate our firm resolve, strong will, and formidable capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the spokeswoman.
"Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are members of one family. The relevant military operations are targeted at separatist forces who attempt to split Taiwan from China and interference from external forces. The drills are aimed at preventing those separatists from colluding with external forces to disrupt the stability of the Taiwan Strait, fundamentally safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as protecting the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the well-being of our compatriots in Taiwan. These actions are by no means directed at the vast majority of our compatriots in Taiwan. We hope that compatriots in Taiwan will recognize the extreme danger and harm of the separatist path pursued by the Lai Ching-te authorities, join us in firmly opposing separatism and foreign interference, stand together to protect our shared homeland of the Chinese nation, and jointly create a bright future of national reunification and the rejuvenation of our nation," she said.
PLA's drills necessary, justified action to defend sovereignty, territorial integrity: spokeswoman
