The guided-missile frigate Tongling (Hull 629) attached to a frigate flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command sails through the wind and waves during a maritime training exercise in mid-January, 2022. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Zhengsong)

 
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will not tolerate any "Taiwan independence" secessionist move or interference by external forces, as the PLA will hit them every time they emerge, a Chinese military spokesperson said at the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Wednesday.

Wu Qian, spokesperson of the PLA and People's Armed Police Force delegation to the 5th session of the 13th NPC, made the remarks in an interview with media when asked about the Government Work Report deliberated at the annual NPC session, which stated that China firmly opposes any separatist activity seeking "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference.

There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, Wu said, noting that compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Straits are blood relatives with a shared future.

The military upholds the policy of "peaceful reunification and one country two systems," and will make the best efforts sincerely pursuing the prospect of a peaceful reunification, but will never tolerate "Taiwan independence" separatist forces to make secessionist activities, Wu said.

Military drills by the PLA are aimed at "Taiwan independence" secessionist moves or interference by external force, and by no means at Taiwan compatriots, Wu stressed.

Wu pointed out that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities' rejection of the 1992 Consensus, increased secessionist activities and colluding with external forces for provocations are the root for the current tensions in the Taiwan Straits, and the political agenda by the US and Japan of using the "Taiwan card" to contain China will not come true.

"The more the US and Japan stir up troubles on the Taiwan question, the more powerful our actions will be in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wu said.

Wu also explained China's national defense budget in 2022, which received a 7.1 percent increase compared with last year.

The increased military expenditure will go to the modernization of weapons and equipment under the development arrangement in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), better train military personnel, deepen the national defense and military reform, and improve the troops' welfare, Wu said.

China's defense spending is reasonably set based on the country's needs in national defense and the development of the national economy, and the figure has been growing appropriately and steadily over the past few years, Wu said.

China's defense expenditure is kept at a low level compared with major military powers like the US, Wu said, noting that this is reflected through the low level of percentage the figure has in GDP and in public expenditure, as well as per capita.

The country's increased defense budget is required to not only deal with complex security challenges, but also to carry out responsibilities as a major country, as the Chinese military has always been a firm force in safeguarding national interests and world peace, Wu said.

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, the Chinese military has actively joined international cooperation against the pandemic, including providing medical supplies and vaccines to many militaries around the world, Wu said.

Global Times