BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Thursday reaffirmed the Chinese military's resolve and capability to thwart any separatist attempt for "Taiwan independence."
Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to recent separatist statements by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te.
Wu noted that the recent drill of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in areas around Taiwan was a legitimate and necessary measure, serving as both punishment and deterrence against "Taiwan independence" separatists and a stern warning to external interfering forces.
The PLA's naval and air forces carried out combat-readiness patrols and joint exercises to test and enhance their operational capabilities, Wu said.
In response to Lai's separatist rhetoric -- claiming that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are "not subordinate to each other" and referring to the mainland as a "foreign hostile force" -- Wu cited a Chinese saying: "When the heavens are about to destroy someone, they first make them delusional."
The PLA remains ready and able to fight and win at all times, and will take resolute measures to thwart any separatist attempts, the spokesperson said.
"Taiwan is a part of China. It has never been a nation; neither in the past, nor in the present, nor will it ever be in the future," he added.