At a routine press conference held by the Taiwan Affairs Office on the morning of July 29, a reporter inquired about the recent crossing of the so-called "Taiwan Strait median line" by a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) helicopter accompanied by a drone. This incident has drawn attention from both Taiwan and the international community.

The reporter noted that, in recent months, Chinese Coast Guard vessels have been increasingly active in the waters east of Taiwan. The area of operations has expanded from the western side's "median line" and the waters near Kinmen and Matsu, to the eastern waters last month. The Chinese side has stated that these actions are a declaration of maritime sovereignty in response to the "private and illegal demarcation by Japan and the Philippines."

The reporter asked the Chinese government to comment on the perception that it is using a "salami-slicing" tactic to implement a new strategy of strategic encirclement and maximum pressure in the waters around Taiwan. The question also sought an assessment of how this continuous compression of Taiwan's defense and living space impacts the sentiment of the Taiwanese people, cross-strait relations, and the situation in the Taiwan Strait.

In response, Chen Binhua, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, stated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and there is no such thing as a "Taiwan Strait median line." The related actions of the PLA and the Chinese Coast Guard near Taiwan are aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as protecting the fundamental interests of all Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan. These actions are lawful, legitimate, and entirely justified.