Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. /Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. /Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council
Military exercises by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command around Taiwan Island serve as a resolute punishment for Lai Ching-te authorities' blatant Taiwan secession provocations, and are a necessary action to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said a Chinese mainland spokesperson on Tuesday.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated that Lai Ching-te persists in advocating for Taiwan secession, defines the Chinese mainland as a "hostile foreign force," and openly incites anti-China sentiment on the island, which has obstructed cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, and escalated tensions in the Taiwan Straits.
Zhu added that Lai's behavior fully proves that he is a "destroyer of cross-Straits peace" and a "creator of a Taiwan Straits crisis."
She emphasized that the Chinese mainland will not tolerate such behavior and will resolutely counter and severely punish such actions.
She warned that Taiwan secession means war. "China's determination to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification is as firm as a rock, and no one or any force will be allowed to separate Taiwan from China," Zhu stated.
Meanwhile, she emphasized that China's countermeasures target Taiwan secessionists and their activities, not the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots. She hopes that the people of Taiwan will stand on the right side of history, resolutely oppose Taiwan secession forces and external interference, and work together with the Chinese mainland for national reunification and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
On Tuesday morning, the PLA Eastern Theater Command began joint exercises around Taiwan Island, organizing its army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on Taiwan Island from multiple directions, according to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command.