The People's Liberation Army's military exercises around the Taiwan Island on Monday are not a repetition of previous drills but with the aim at intensifying pressure against "Taiwan independence", the Ministry of National Defense said Monday evening.

In response to the provocative speech by Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te on Thursday, Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that every provocation by "Taiwan independence" forces will be met with a further step by the PLA until the Taiwan question is completely resolved.

Wu criticized figures like Lai for "forgetting their roots and deliberately severing historical ties across the Taiwan Strait", inciting hostility and confrontation, and attempting to confuse and alter the understanding that both sides of the Strait belong to one China.

These actions fully exposed his true nature as a "destroyer of cross-Strait peace" and "creator of crises in the Taiwan Strait", he said, noting that "we will not tolerate this and must counteract it".

Wu emphasized that Taiwan is a sacred Chinese territory, with a clear historical context and legal facts widely recognized by the international community.

"Taiwan has never been a country and will never become one," said the spokesman.

He said that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities' provocations for "independence" and foreign interference are the root causes of instability in the Taiwan Strait, only bringing disaster to the people in Taiwan.

The PLA's current exercises are targeting "Taiwan independence", said Wu. "We are using language that 'Taiwan independence' separatists can understand, to make it clear that the pursuit of 'independence' is a dead end."

Meanwhile, the spokesman emphasized that the drills are not targeted at the people in Taiwan.

"We are willing to exert utmost sincerity and make every effort to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, nor will we leave any room for 'Taiwan independence'," he said.

Wu stressed that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and will not tolerate interference by any person or force under any pretext.

"Relevant parties should cease supporting 'Taiwan independence' and stop undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," he said, underscoring that the reunification of the motherland is an unstoppable historical trend and an unshakable national duty.