BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has the confidence and the capability to shatter all "Taiwan independence" separatist illusions, said a Chinese defense spokesperson on Tuesday.

Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the statement in response to the recent remarks made by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te about so-called increased "defense budget" and "fighting for Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu."

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu are all territories of China, Jiang said.

Jiang criticized Lai of fabricating security concerns to hijack public opinion in Taiwan and of attempting to militarize the local society and drag the future of Taiwan into the schemes masterminded by external forces.

Lai's call to "fight for Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu" is in fact about fighting for the interests of the Democratic Progressive Party and for the separatist goal of "Taiwan independence," he said.

Commenting on a military exercise of Taiwan which will start on Wednesday, Jiang noted that whatever subjects they drill and whatever weapons they use, the PLA's countermeasures against "Taiwan independence" would not be deterred, nor would the irresistible trend of China's national reunification be stopped. ■