Defense spokesman: PLA drills around Taiwan justified

The People's Liberation Army drills around Taiwan that began on Monday are a stern warning to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external interference, and a justified and necessary move to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, a defense spokesman said on Monday evening.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to media analysis suggesting the drills were aimed at recent large-scale United States arms sales to Taiwan.

Zhang said external forces have repeatedly crossed red lines on the Taiwan question, seeking to embolden "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, intensifying cross-Strait confrontation, undermining China's sovereignty and security, and damaging peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

He said the authorities led by Lai Ching-te in Taiwan have "no bottom line," accusing them of pandering to and relying on external forces while recklessly pursuing provocations aimed at "independence," which Zhang described as the root cause of undermining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and escalating tensions.

"'Taiwan independence' is incompatible with peace across the Strait," Zhang said, adding that external forces' tolerance and support for separatist activities would backfire and bring consequences upon themselves.

He urged relevant countries to abandon what he called the fantasy of using Taiwan to contain China, to stop "fanning flames and stirring up trouble" on the Taiwan question, and to stop challenging China's resolve to safeguard its core interests.

Zhang also warned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities that seeking "independence" by relying on external forces is doomed to fail and that resisting reunification through military means is a dead end.

The PLA will show no mercy in combating "independence" and advancing reunification, Zhang said, adding that it will continue to organize actions against separatism and external interference and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.