The Taiwan Affairs Office of State Council, at a press conference on Wednesday, focused on questions related to Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's inauguration speech on May 20, saying that Lai's speech violates national and people's interests and negates the one-China principle. The press conference covered the PLA military drills, code-named "Joint Sword-2024A," held last week. When asked about the A in the code, and the possible B and C and so on, the spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said it is a firm punishment for the provocation caused by the Taiwan leader's speech, and a stern warning against external forces’ support for "Taiwan independence".