The Chinese army is ready to take decisive action to protect national sovereignty in connection with the aggravation of the Taiwan issue. This was reported today, March 10, by TASS with reference to Xinhua news agency.

According to the agency, such a statement was made at the parliamentary session in Beijing by a representative of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) and the People's Armed Police (an analogue of the internal troops) Wu Qiang.

"The more the United States and Japan make waves on the Taiwan issue, the tougher we will take to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. Wu Qiang emphasized that the Chinese military will never tolerate separatist actions to realize Taiwan's independence and foreign interference in China's internal affairs. He noted that the related exercises and combat training of the PLA are in no way directed against Taiwanese compatriots.

"The actions of the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party administration and their collusion with outside forces are the main cause of the current tension and turmoil in the Taiwan Strait," Wu Qiang said. The Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China that does not tolerate external interference, the PLA spokesman concluded.