Military drills necessary and justified, mainland official says

A Chinese mainland spokesperson said that recent military drills in the Taiwan Strait were a necessary and justified measure to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling on Taiwan compatriots to recognize the dangers posed by "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, reiterated at a regular news conference on Wednesday that the People's Liberation Army's exercises served as a stern warning to both "Taiwan independence" separatists and foreign forces interfering in the Taiwan Strait.

"We will never tolerate any 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities and will resolutely strike back," Zhang said, adding that the drills were aimed at protecting the core interests of the Chinese nation and safeguarding the fundamental interests of the people of Taiwan.

On Monday morning, the PLA Eastern Theater Command launched the military drills, "Justice Mission 2025", in the waters and airspace surrounding the island of Taiwan. According to experts, the exercises were a direct response to a recent large-scale US arms sale to Taiwan.

At the news conference, Zhang condemned the Lai Ching-te authorities for pursuing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, courting foreign powers without principle, and betraying Taiwan's interests.

She said Lai's provocative and militaristic actions in seeking "independence" have come at the expense of Taiwan's economic development and the well-being of its people, severely undermining cross-Strait relations and threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Responding to recent remarks by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities on the drills, Zhang said they were attempting to confuse facts and mislead public opinion.

She accused the DPP authorities of stubbornly adhering to a "Taiwan independence" separatist stance and colluding with external forces on a dangerous path of seeking "independence" through force.

Describing the DPP authorities as "destroyers of peace", "manufacturers of crises", and "instigators of war", Zhang said that their obstinate "Taiwan independence" separatist stance and collusion with external forces are the root cause of the disruptions to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.