BEIJING, April 8 -- Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), said on Saturday that the PLA Eastern Theater Command launched combat readiness security patrol encircling the Taiwan Island and carried out “Joint Sword” exercise, which will last from April 8 to 10 Beijing time as scheduled.
This is a stern warning to the provocative activities of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, noted the spokesperson.