Washington attempts to use "salami-slicing tactics" to harm China's sovereignty and territory, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Wednesday, in response to a question of the frequent U.S. moves in the Taiwan Straits.

A U.S. transport plane took off from the U.S. airbase in Okinawa and passed over the island and into the Taiwan Straits on June 9, days after a U.S. warship USS Russell sailed through the Taiwan Straits.

Wu warned such actions, saying that the People's Liberation Army would resolutely defend China's sovereignty and territory.

He reiterated that Taiwan is part of China, and China rejects any external interference.

"The U.S. frequently plays the Taiwan card, and it, in fact, attempts to jeopardize China's sovereignty and territory with 'salami-slicing tactics'," Wu said.

The PLA is always on high alert and it is fully confident and capable of defending the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits, he added.

When asked about Washington's plan to deploy intermediate-range missiles in the Asia Pacific, Wu said it would be a provocation at China's "doorstep", and China would not sit idle if such plan proceeded.

The Pentagon is thinking of deploying intermediate-range missiles at U.S. military bases in Japan's Okinawa, Japanese media has reported after the Trump administration withdrew from the arms control treaty with Russia that barred the U.S. land-based intermediate-range missiles in Asia.

If the U.S. side pushes forward the deployment, it is a clear provocation at China's "doorstep," Wu said, adding that China will take all necessary measures to resolutely counteract the deployment.