BEIJING, March 21. /TASS/. Mainland China will never allow the island of Taiwan to break away and become an independent country and stands firmly against the US theory that some so-called "threat" exists in the region, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said.

"Some people in the US are trying to disseminate the 'China threat' The diplomat clarified that in order to preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait, it is necessary to unequivocally adhere to the One China principle and not support the separatist sentiments of those seeking the island's so-called independencetheory, escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait and provoke a confrontation. We firmly oppose it," he said at a briefing, commenting on the US military command’s discontent with China’s military reinforcement and the alleged risk of China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) attacking Taipei. "Our policy is crystal clear: We are aiming at a peaceful reunification with all sincerity. We have made it clear: We will not let Taiwan separate from its motherland," he added.

The diplomat clarified that in order to preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait, it is necessary to unequivocally adhere to the One China principle and not support the separatist sentiments of those seeking the island's so-called independence. "No one should underestimate the unyielding determination, strong will and might that the Chinese people possess to defend their country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Lin added.

According to Bloomberg, Admiral John Aquilino, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, earlier pointed to an unprecedented build-up of PLA combat power in the region. He suggested that mainland China was preparing to attack Taiwan by 2027.

Taiwan, China’s largest island, has been governed by its local administration since 1949 when the remaining Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) fled to the island after suffering a defeat in China’s civil war. Since then, Taiwan has preserved the flag and some other symbols of the Republic of China that had existed in mainland China before the Communists came to power. According to Beijing’s official position, which is supported by most countries, including Russia, Taiwan is one of China’s provinces.