The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command has continued organizing naval and air forces to patrol with combat readiness in the Taiwan Straits, and such actions are necessary in response to the cross-Straits situation, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said on Friday.

A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force formation conducts island patrols during training on April 26, 2018. (Photo: Xinhua)

The island of Taiwan is part of China and to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity is the sacred mission of the PLA. Forces of the PLA Eastern Theater Command would stay on high alert and take necessary measures to fight at any time against the interference of foreign forces and attempt of secessionists on the island of Taiwan, the spokesperson said.

The US and secessionists on the island of Taiwan have continued provocations. After the virtual summit between presidents of China and the US in which US President Joe Biden stressed the US does not support Taiwan secessionism, the US once again sent a congressional delegation to the island of Taiwan on Friday for a visit, the second such delegation in November.