The military exercises of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command around Taiwan Island serve as a resolute punishment for "Taiwan independence" provocations, said a mainland spokesperson on Wednesday.

The exercises are a necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Zhu Fenglian, a State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson.

There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, Zhu said, noting that pursuing "Taiwan independence" means "pushing the people of Taiwan into a perilous situation."