From May 23 to 24, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army organized forces from the theater's army, navy, air force, and rocket force to conduct the "Joint Sword-2024A" exercise around the island of Taiwan, focusing on drills including joint sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets. Warships and aircraft conducted combat patrols close to the island of Taiwan, with integrated linkage inside and outside the island chain, testing the theater troops' actual combat capability for joint operations. This is a just act by China to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, a strong punishment for the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' pursuit of "independence," and a serious warning against interference and provocation by external forces.

As a "pragmatic Taiwan independence worker," Taiwan region leader Lai Ching-te's "5·20" speech is a thorough and complete "Taiwan independence confession," seriously provoking the one-China principle and seriously undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It can be described as extremely strong in "independence" and enormously harmful. From whatever angle, the mainland's countermeasures are legitimate, lawful, and necessary.

In terms of wording, Lai Ching-te throughout his speech used the word "China" to refer to the mainland and used "country" to refer to Taiwan, vigorously promoting separatist fallacies such as so-called "sovereign independence," "the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other," and "Taiwan residents' self-determination," attempting to make a big issue of so-called "national" identity and to replace cross-strait relations with state-to-state relations. If Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, and Tsai Ing-wen previously tried to play edge balls in their inaugural speeches, Lai Ching-te's speech amounts to directly laying his cards on the table, impatiently revealing the true face of "Taiwan independence," with an extremely arrogant attitude and more radical propositions.

In terms of content, Lai Ching-te's speech is full of lies and deception. He swore an oath on the "Constitution of the Republic of China," which embodies that both sides of the strait belong to one China, yet in his mouth he promoted the "two-states theory." This is outright deception! Under the guise of "peace and common prosperity," Lai Ching-te claimed that the two sides could restart tourism exchanges and that degree students could come to Taiwan to study. But the fact is: mainland residents and students cannot travel to or study in Taiwan entirely because of the DPP authorities. More importantly, Taiwan is part of China, so how can there be talk of "bilateral and reciprocal" cooperation? This shows that Lai Ching-te has no sincerity at all in promoting cross-strait exchanges and interactions, and vainly attempts to position Taiwan and the mainland as "two countries" and to "legitimize Taiwan independence."

No matter how Lai Ching-te whitewashes it, he cannot conceal the fact that he is peddling the "two-states theory"; no matter what guise he uses, he cannot hide the enormous harm he has done to peace across the Taiwan Strait; no matter how he plays word games, he cannot conceal his essence as a betrayer of mainstream public opinion on the island and a destroyer of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region. We hope the people on the island of Taiwan will keep their eyes wide open.

Taiwan public opinion points out that Lai Ching-te is the "Taiwan independence golden grandson" and the greatest hidden danger for triggering cross-strait conflict. Zhao Chunshan, honorary professor at the Graduate Institute of China Studies at Tamkang University in Taiwan, said that he has studied cross-strait relations for nearly sixty years and has never been so fearful. A TVBS poll shows that regarding whether the newly inaugurated DPP authorities can properly handle cross-strait relations, 53% of people on the island expressed no confidence.

Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and compatriots on both sides of the strait belong to the Chinese nation. Regarding the DPP authorities' collusion with external forces in pursuit of "independence" and provocation, the mainland has long made itself clear: there must be countermeasures, and there must be punishment. Otherwise, once Lai Ching-te, who forgets his ancestors, translates all kinds of fallacies into policy actions, the Taiwan Strait will inevitably fall into a situation of imminent military danger. This joint training exercise conducted by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army around the island of Taiwan is a resolute punishment for Lai Ching-te's provocative actions and a firm safeguard of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the well-being of Taiwan compatriots.

Taiwan is at the core of China's core interests. To want peace, to want development, to want exchanges, and to want cooperation are the common aspirations of compatriots on both sides of the strait. "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and runs counter to the interests and well-being of compatriots on both sides; it is playing with fire and will burn itself. We solemnly warn the DPP authorities and external forces: immediately stop the dangerous acts of seeking "independence" and provocation; otherwise, every provocation will surely be met with a countermeasure; the more severe the provocation, the stronger the countermeasure. No one should underestimate the firm determination, steadfast will, and powerful capability of compatriots on both sides of the strait to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity!