Three video grabs show the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army employing its Navy, Air Force and Army on Monday to conduct a joint exercise, named "Justice Mission 2025", in the Taiwan Strait and in areas north, east, southeast and southwest of Taiwan Island. Rocket Force troops also participated in the drill. [Photo provided to CHINA DAILY]
China has lodged serious diplomatic representations after Japan, Australia, an EU institution, and some European countries expressed concerns about Chinese mainland's military exercises near the Taiwan island, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a daily news briefing, Lin said these countries and institutions have turned a deaf ear to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' attempts to break from China by force and ignored external interference in China's internal affairs — yet have made unwarranted comments on China's necessary and just actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"This is a blatant distortion of right and wrong, highly hypocritical, and China firmly opposes it," Lin said.
He reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and brooks no interference from any external forces.
The biggest status quo across the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, while the greatest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and the indulgence and support of external forces, he added.
Noting that the one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a fundamental norm in international relations, Lin said it is also the political foundation for China's diplomatic relations with 183 countries.
He urged Japan, Australia, and European countries — which made political commitments to the principle when establishing diplomatic links with China — to cease interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop condoning and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist activities.
