The recent patrol and exercise operations conducted by the People's Liberation Army in areas surrounding Taiwan Island were intended to punish "Taiwan independence" separatists, according to a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian told reporters at a news conference in Beijing on Thursday afternoon that the PLA Eastern Theater Command recently organized its naval and air forces to carry out combat-readiness patrols, joint drills and training in waters and airspace around Taiwan Island, testing and enhancing the troops' combat capabilities.

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"This is a powerful punishment for 'Taiwan independence' elements and a solemn warning to external interfering forces, and it is completely just and necessary.

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"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and has never been a country. It was not in the past, it is not now, and it will never be in the future," he said.

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The PLA will resolutely implement the Party's overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, and maintain combat readiness around the clock, the spokesman said.

It is capable of fighting at any time, is determined to win in any battle, and will thwart all "Taiwan independence" separatist attempts, according to Wu.