This undated file photo shows Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense. (PHOTO / MOD.GOV.CN)

BEIJING - A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday reiterated that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has both the ability and confidence to defeat "Taiwan independence" separatism and foreign interference schemes.

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks when commenting on the passing of a US act on advancing its military cooperation with China's Taiwan region.

Zhang said the Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests, and is also the most significant issue and risk in China-US relations.

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This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows artillery weapons of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) simulating the launch of precision strikes during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

"We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques and fulfill to the letter its commitment to not supporting 'Taiwan independence,' instead of saying something nice while doing the opposite," said the spokesperson.

Zhang stressed that China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been and will never be divided.

But for some time, some external forces have tried all means to "use Taiwan to contain China" and Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities have been harboring the illusion of "seeking US support for their independence agenda," which have sabotaged the status quo and aggravated tensions across the Strait, Zhang said

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Zhang added that resolving the Taiwan question is the Chinese people's own affair, which allows no external interference.