Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

On October 10, Lai Ching-te delivered a "Double Ten" speech in Taipei. This speech, filled with "independence" narrative and toxic rhetoric, intentionally severs the historical connections between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. He continued to promote the "new two states" rhetoric, claiming the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are "not subordinate to each other." He fabricated fallacies about "Taiwan independence," advocated separatist views and incited hostility and confrontation across the Straits, severely undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and drew strong criticism from various parties.

On October 14, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command dispatched its troops of army, navy, air force and rocket force to conduct joint military drills code-named Joint Sword-2024B in the Taiwan Straits and areas to the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan. This drill serves as a powerful deterrent against separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence" and is a legitimate and necessary action to defend national sovereignty and maintain national unity.

Unity is the trend of history and the right path. After the Opium War in 1840, in order to overcome foreign invasion, strive for national liberation and achieve national reunification, the sons and daughters of China fought bravely and tirelessly in a moving struggle. Sun Yat-sen was the first to call for "the revitalization of China," leading the 1911 Revolution to success and exploring a path for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Taiwan has been the sacred territory of China since ancient times, and in modern history it was occupied by invading foreign forces, who caused great suffering to the people on the island. In 1945, the Chinese people achieved a great victory in the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), and Taiwan was subsequently restored. After 1949, due to the continuation of the Chinese Civil War and external interference, the two sides of the Taiwan Straits fell into a prolonged state of political opposition. However, Taiwan has always been a part of Chinese territory, and the Taiwan compatriots have always been members of the Chinese nation. The government of the People's Republic of China has always been the only legitimate government representing all of China, including Taiwan. China has always been the great motherland of all Chinese people, and upholding the one-China principle has always been a common consensus in the international community.

Lai is clearly turning a deaf ear to the historical context of the Taiwan question. He is also turning a blind eye to the fact that the people on both sides of the Straits share the same ancestry and origins. In his "Double Ten" speech delivered on October 10, he meticulously concocted justifications for splitting the country, forcefully propagating his "Taiwan independence" stance and reiterating the old clichés of "democracy vs authoritarianism." Under the guise of "democracy and freedom," he continues to seek "independence" through external support and military buildup, attempting to tie Taiwan to the chariot of "Taiwan independence." Lai's rehashed "Taiwan independence" fallacies once again expose his obstinate stance on "Taiwan independence" and his malicious intent to escalate hostility and confrontation, which will bring severe disasters to the people on the island of Taiwan. 

"Taiwan independence" is a historical regression and a dead end. During the past eight years, cross-Straits relations have sharply deteriorated. This fact has fully demonstrated that the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) "Taiwan independence" line, confrontational approach and harmful policies have been the root causes of Taiwan's perilous situation, extreme social division and serious economic damage. Lai's stubborn pursuit of the "Taiwan independence" path is leading Taiwan further away from peace and prosperity and closer to war and decline.

Those who play with fire will surely get burned. Lai and the DPP authorities, daring to take risks on the erroneous path of "Taiwan independence," will inevitably face heavy blows and will not be able to escape the historical law of destruction. The PLA Eastern Theater Command's Joint Sword-2024B exercise once again proves that for every move made by the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, the military countermeasures of the PLA will advance further, tightening the chain around the neck of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and bringing the sword of Damocles closer to their heads.

The realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the greatest dream of the Chinese people since modern times, and it has always been closely related to the future and destiny of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. Taiwan's future lies in national reunification, and the well-being of the Taiwan compatriots is tied to national rejuvenation. No matter what kind of "historical paradox" or "Taiwan independence nonsense" Lai throws out, the fact that both sides of the Straits belong to one China cannot be changed. Furthermore, Lai's rhetoric cannot extinguish the sense of national identity among the people in the Taiwan island. We have the confidence and capability to achieve complete reunification of the motherland; no one and no force can obstruct the historical trend of national rejuvenation and reunification. We are ready to make the greatest effort with utmost sincerity to strive for a peaceful reunification. We will never leave any room for any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, nor will we tolerate provocations aimed at "Taiwan independence." We will resolutely crush any separatist plots and decisively cut off any illusions of division. 

The PLA will continue to strengthen training and its combat preparedness, comprehensively enhance its capability to win and resolutely counter and retaliate against "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference. As long as the provocations of "Taiwan independence" continue, the PLA's actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity will never cease.

This article is a commentary the PLA Daily published on Monday. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn