Drills aim to deter 'Taiwan independence' separatists

The recent patrol and exercise operations conducted by the People's Liberation Army in areas surrounding Taiwan island were intended to punish "Taiwan independence" separatists, according to a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian said on Thursday that the PLA Eastern Theater Command recently organized its naval and air forces to carry out combat-readiness patrols, joint drills and training in waters and airspace around Taiwan, testing and enhancing the troops' combat capabilities.

"This serves as a powerful punishment and deterrence for 'Taiwan independence' separatists and a stern warning to external interfering forces, and it is completely legitimate and necessary," Wu said. "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. It has never been a nation; neither in the past, nor in the present, nor will it ever be in the future."