Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council Photo: the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

The joint exercises conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command around the Taiwan Island serve as a resolute punishment against the reckless provocations of the Lai Ching-te authorities in seeking "Taiwan independence," Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Tuesday.

The drills also serve as a stern warning to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces who deliberately undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and are an essential step to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zhu said in a statement.

Lai has stubbornly adhered to a separatist stance, brazenly labeled the Chinese mainland as an "external hostile force," and proposed the so-called "17 major strategies" aimed at provoking confrontation, inciting anti-China sentiment, obstructing cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, and escalating tensions in the Taiwan Straits. These have fully exposed him as a destroyer of cross-Straits peace and a creator of crisis in the region, revealing his true anti-peace, anti-exchange, anti-democracy, and anti-humanitarian nature, said the spokesperson.

"Such behavior is intolerable and unacceptable," Zhu said, noting that "it must be resolutely countered and severely punished."

Zhu said that "Taiwan independence" means war, and any attempt to pursue "Taiwan independence" will only push the people of Taiwan into a dangerous and volatile situation. She reaffirmed that China's determination to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification is unwavering, and its capabilities are strong and unshakable.

"We will never allow any person or force to separate Taiwan from China, and we will never leave any room for any form of 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities," she said.

Zhu also noted that the countermeasures are directed solely at "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, not at the majority of Taiwan compatriots. "We hope that Taiwan compatriots could stand on the right side of history, recognize their identity as dignified Chinese, clearly distinguish right from wrong, and act with a sense of justice," she said.

We encourage them to work together with compatriots on the mainland to firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference, safeguard our shared homeland, and jointly contribute to national reunification and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, said Zhu.