Taiwan

"Taiwan Independence" Is the Chief Culprit Undermining Peace in the Taiwan Strait

“台独”是破坏台海和平的罪魁祸首

PLA Daily (解放军报) 9 May 2026

Summary

On May 9, PLA Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Senior Colonel Jiang Bin confirmed that PLA naval and air forces conducted joint combat readiness patrols around Taiwan Island, with a main combat vessel formation entering waters southwest of the Penghu Islands, and explicitly denied the existence of the strait median line. The statement's framing—attributing the patrols to 'Taiwan independence' provocations rather than to any specific triggering event—signals that Beijing is positioning cross-median-line incursions and near-Penghu operations as normalized enforcement actions rather than exceptional responses, lowering the threshold for future operations while providing political cover against charges of escalation.

Translation

On the afternoon of May 9, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director of the Ministry of National Defense News Bureau and Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, released information on recent military-related issues.

Reporter: According to reports, the PLA recently organized naval and air forces to conduct joint combat readiness patrols (联合战备警巡) around Taiwan Island, and a main combat vessel formation entered the waters southwest of the Penghu Islands. Some analysts believe that the increase in the number of PLA ships and aircraft crossing the "strait median line" may be related to recent visits abroad by senior Taiwan officials. What is your comment on this?

Jiang Bin: Taiwan is a part of China, and the so-called "strait median line" simply does not exist. The PLA's conduct of military operations in the relevant areas is entirely justified and reasonable. "Taiwan independence" is the chief culprit undermining peace in the Taiwan Strait — we will absolutely not condone it, and will absolutely not tolerate it (决不姑息、决不容忍). The PLA will continue to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity through concrete actions, and resolutely safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Original Chinese

5月9日下午，国防部新闻局副局长、国防部新闻发言人蒋斌大校就近期涉军问题发布消息。记者：据报道，解放军近期组织海空兵力位台岛周边开展联合战备警巡、主战舰艇编队进入澎湖西南海域。有分析认为，解放军舰机越过“海峡中线”数量增加，可能与近期台高层窜访活动有关。请问对此有何评论？蒋斌：台湾是中国的一部分，根本不存在所谓“海峡中线”。解放军位相关区域开展军事行动，完全正当合理。“台独”是破坏台海和平的罪魁祸首，我们决不姑息、决不容忍。解放军将继续以实际行动坚决捍卫国家主权和领土完整，坚决维护台海和平稳定。