Beijing, May 24 (Xinhua) -- "Every time the 'Taiwan independence' forces provoke us, our countermeasures will advance one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved." Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian made these remarks on the 24th when answering a reporter's question about the joint exercises conducted by the PLA Eastern Theater Command around the island of Taiwan.

A reporter asked: Recently, the Eastern Theater Command conducted joint exercises around the island of Taiwan. U.S. military officials said this move has heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait and is cause for concern. What is your response?

Wu Qian stated that recently, 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 joint exercises around the island of Taiwan, testing the troops' joint operational combat capability. This operation is aimed at striking the arrogance of "Taiwan independence" and deterring interference and intervention by external forces; it is entirely reasonable, lawful, justified, and necessary.

Wu Qian pointed out that the leader of the Taiwan region, upon taking office, severely challenged the one-China principle, blatantly peddled the "two states" theory, and attempted to "seek independence through force" and "rely on external forces to seek independence," pushing Taiwan compatriots into a dangerous situation of war and peril. "This is completely playing with fire, and those who play with fire will burn themselves."

Wu Qian said that Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and how to resolve the Taiwan question is a matter for the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people themselves. The Chinese People's Liberation Army takes concrete actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Every time the 'Taiwan independence' forces provoke us, our countermeasures will advance one step further, until the complete reunification of the motherland is achieved."