BEJING: China’s Ministry of National Defense has dismissed criticism from Western governments over its recent large-scale military drills around Taiwan, saying the exercises were aimed at deterring “Taiwan independence” forces and foreign interference.
Speaking in response to media queries, ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command successfully carried out the exercise, named “Justice Mission 2025”, to test integrated joint combat capabilities and demonstrate readiness to counter separatist activities and external intervention.
Zhang said the drills underscored that any actions crossing Beijing’s “red lines” on the Taiwan issue would face firm countermeasures, adding that attempts to block China’s reunification would ultimately fail. Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te has warned that the exercises increased uncertainty and risk in the region. The United States, Japan, Australia, the Philippines and the European Union have also voiced concern, urging Beijing to show restraint and opposing unilateral moves to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
Rejecting these remarks, Zhang reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that the Taiwan question is a purely internal matter that allows no foreign interference. He described the PLA’s operations around the island as “fully legitimate, necessary and beyond reproach.”
According to Zhang, the primary threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is not the mainland’s military activity but “Taiwan independence” separatism and the external forces backing it.“No one values peace in the Taiwan Strait more than we do,” he said, adding that China would not allow “peace” to be used as a pretext to restrain efforts against separatist moves.
He called on foreign governments and institutions to uphold the one-China principle and cease support for pro-independence forces in Taiwan, and urged people on the island to recognize the risks posed by Lai’s policies and safeguard their own security and interests.
Zhang said the mainland’s military would continue enhancing combat readiness and remain prepared to counter any steps toward independence, defeat foreign interference, and defend China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
