Taiwan separatist forces are heading for a 'dead end', expert says

The military drills conducted by the People's Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command in the Taiwan Strait, aimed at combating Taiwan "independence" separatists and deterring external interference, demonstrate that attempting to seek "independence" through force is a dead end, an expert has said.

On Monday, the theater command announced the "Justice Mission 2025" joint military exercises in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Island. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command, said the drills are a legitimate and necessary action to defend national sovereignty and safeguard national unity.

Chen Guiqing, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies, said the exercises were a direct response to the recent large-scale sale of arms by the United States to the administration on Taiwan.

"The goal of these drills is clear, to strike at Taiwan's 'independence' forces and deter external interference," he said.

On Dec 17, the US approved an $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan, the largest such deal since 1979. Chen Binhua, spokesman for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, condemned the sale as "blatant interference" in the country's internal affairs and a violation of the one-China principle, as well as the three China-US joint communiques.

Chen Guiqing also pointed to the provocative actions of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities, who persist in pursuing "independence" through separatist policies. This, he said, has exacerbated tensions and instability in the Taiwan Strait.

"The military drills not only showcase the PLA's ability to precisely strike Taiwan's 'independence' forces but also send a clear signal to external, interfering forces that the PLA can prevent outside intervention in the Taiwan Strait," Chen said.

"More and more people in Taiwan will realize that seeking 'independence' through force is a dead end, and pursuing 'independence' by relying on external forces leads to an even more hopeless path."

According to the theater command, the PLA has employed fighters, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles in coordination with long-range rockets during the military drills, aiming to test troops' ability to conduct precision strikes on key targets.

Chen said the drills are directed at a very small number of "Taiwan independence" separatists on the island who are responsible for disrupting the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan "president" Lai Ching-te has proposed raising the island's "defense budget" to more than 3 percent of GDP, with a target of 5 percent by 2030, under the banner of "seeking peace through military strength".

Chen pointed out, however, that the vast military and economic imbalance that exists between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan renders such proposals untenable. He argued that Lai is using this false narrative to disguise his designs towards "independence".

"In reality, Lai is undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait. If he truly wants peace, he should abandon his 'independence' ambitions," Chen said.

In addition to escalating tensions in the region, Lai's push for militarization will drain funds from other vital sectors, including economic development, culture, education and social welfare, Chen said.