Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense

For us, to deal with the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces is like catching a turtle in a jar, and all options that can punish the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces remain on the table, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND), told at a press conference on Friday in response to a question about there are concerns in Taiwan that the mainland might follow what the US did to Venezuela to legitimize the use of force against the island.

The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair. How to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese, which brooks no interference from external forces, Zhang said when asked about the question which also included that some international media claimed that if Beijing were to adopt a similar approach, it would face much higher risks and costs.