Q: The Spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) released a statement on December 30 about China’s military drills around the Taiwan island. What is China’s comment?

A: The military drills by the PLA are a punitive and deterrent action against separatist forces who seek “Taiwan independence” through military buildup, and a just move to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair and brooks no external inference. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes the EU’s statement which violates the one-China principle and interferes in China’s internal affairs. The biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at present is the separatist activities of “Taiwan independence” forces and the external connivance and support they receive. To maintain cross-Strait peace and stability, one must uphold the one-China principle and unequivocally oppose “Taiwan independence”. The Chinese side urges the EU side to abide by its political commitments it has made to China, implement the one-China principle in real actions, and not send any wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.