Zhang Xiaogang Photo:mod.gov.cn

"Justice Mission 2025" joint military drills constitute a serious warning to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and foreign interference. It is a legitimate and necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said on Monday, when asked to comment as some foreign media commented that the military drills conducted around the Taiwan Island on Monday target the US' recent massive arms sales to Taiwan region.

In recent times, foreign forces have repeatedly crossed red lines on the Taiwan question, attempting to embolden "Taiwan independence" separatists and intensify cross-Straits confrontation, which seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security, and gravely sabotages peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, Zhang said.

The Lai Ching-te authorities have unscrupulously catered to and leaned on foreign forces, arrogantly engaging in provocations of seeking "Taiwan independence", and have become the root cause of disrupting the status quo in the Taiwan Straits and escalating tensions, Zhang added.

"Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace across the Taiwan Straits, said Zhang, adding that foreign forces' connivance and support for "Taiwan independence" will only end up backfiring, making them suffer the consequences of their actions. 

"We urge relevant countries to abandon the fantasy of 'using Taiwan question to contain China,' cease fanning the flames and stirring up trouble on the Taiwan question, and refrain from challenging China's resolve and will to safeguard its core interests," Zhang said.

"We sternly warn the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities that 'seeking independence by relying on foreign forces' is destined to fail, and 'resisting reunification by force' is a dead end," the spokesperson said. 

The Chinese People's Liberation Army will not hesitate to crack down on "Taiwan independence" and promote reunification, and will continue to organize anti-secession and anti-interference operations to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, unification, and territorial integrity, Zhang said.


Global Times