BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday slammed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan for deliberately stoking tensions and escalating cross-Strait confrontation.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media query about Taiwan holding a combat readiness exercise that coincides with a massive military drill code-named "Valiant Shield 2026" jointly held by the U.S. and Japan in the Indo-Pacific region.

Military posturing cannot substitute for genuine security, Zhang said, stressing that those who see confrontation as a normal state of affairs and prioritize political gain over public welfare will ultimately pay the corresponding price.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army remains on high alert at all times and will firmly thwart any reckless attempt at "Taiwan independence," he added.