Defense ministry rebuffs criticism over drills around Taiwan

The Ministry of National Defense said a recent large-scale exercise around Taiwan was intended to deter "Taiwan independence" forces and foreign interference, pushing back against criticism from several Western governments that the drills undermined regional stability.

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command successfully conducted the exercise, dubbed Justice Mission 2025, to test integrated joint combat capabilities and demonstrate the military's readiness to counter separatist activities and outside intervention.

"The exercise clearly shows that any provocative act crossing red lines on the Taiwan question will be met with resolute countermeasures," Zhang said in a statement responding to media queries, adding that attempts to obstruct China's reunification "will never succeed."

Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te has said the drills increased uncertainty and risk in the region. The United States, Japan, Australia, the Philippines and the European Union have also expressed concern, calling on Beijing to exercise restraint and opposing unilateral efforts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

Zhang rejected those criticisms, reiterating that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that the Taiwan question is purely an internal matter that allows no foreign interference. He said the PLA's actions around the island were "completely legitimate, necessary and beyond reproach."

According to Zhang, the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is not the Chinese mainland's military activity but "Taiwan independence" separatism and the external forces that support it.

"No one cherishes peace in the Taiwan Strait more than we do," he said, "but we will never allow any force to use 'peace' as a pretext to restrain China from countering separatist activities."

He urged foreign governments and institutions to adhere to the one-China principle and stop supporting pro-independence forces in Taiwan. He also called on people in Taiwan to recognize the dangers posed by Lai's policies and to safeguard their own security and interests.

Zhang said the Chinese mainland's military would continue strengthening combat readiness and remain prepared to respond to any moves toward independence, defeat foreign interference, and safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.