BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday launched a series of drills code-named "Justice Mission 2025" around Taiwan Island, dispatching troops from its ground, air, naval and rocket forces to deter "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external interference.
This sends an unequivocal message that Beijing at all times stands ready to crush any secession plot aiming to split Taiwan from the motherland. Each escalation in provocation will be met with stronger countermeasures. The PLA is ready to fight at any moment, and is certain to prevail if and when it does fight.
For years, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan have obstinately attempted to seek U.S. support for their separatist agenda, recklessly turning Taiwan into a "powder keg."
This only serves to expose their true colors as a troublemaker and warmonger. Such actions will only bring disasters to Taiwan.
By currying favor with the United States through obsequious loyalty gestures and promoting arms purchases, the DPP is binding the entire island of Taiwan to its catastrophic secessionist chariot, disregarding public opinion.
Recently, the United States announced a package of arms sales to Taiwan totaling 11 billion U.S. dollars. And the island's leader, Lai Ching-te, has planned to continue spending massively on purchases of U.S. arms in the coming eight years. These facts have exposed the collusion between the U.S. and the DPP to harm the interests of the people in Taiwan.
Mounting public fury is now translating into concrete action. A motion for Lai's impeachment has been approved by Taiwan's local legislature, and over eight million people have signed online petitions in support.
People in Taiwan want peace. They want exchange and cooperation with their fellow Chinese on the other side of the Strait. They are unwilling to act as a pawn for external powers attempting to contain China.
Since coming to power, the DPP has squandered the hard-earned money of Taiwan taxpayers on a futile endeavor, crowding out essential services such as education, health care and social welfare while lavishing resources on U.S. arms purchases.
From 2020 to 2022, Taiwan was the United States' largest weapons buyer. By 2024, Taiwan's military budget had nearly doubled from eight years earlier. Taiwan's military spending for 2026 is budgeted at 3.32 percent of its regional GDP, a record high since 2009.
By squandering the island's public wealth and colluding with external forces to drain its resources, the DPP authorities are imposing a long-term burden on people's livelihoods and jeopardizing the development prospects of Taiwan.
The DPP's fanciful attempts to pursue "Taiwan independence" by relying on U.S. support will only heighten tensions in the Taiwan Strait and push the island's residents toward the brink of conflicts.
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan offer no protective shield for the island; they serve merely as a cash machine for U.S. arms dealers.
The PLA's drills are a clear reminder for the DPP that the trend of national reunification is unstoppable, and that the will of the people cannot be defied. ■
