BEIJING – China warned on Wednesday that those who persist in playing the "Taiwan card" to interfere in China's internal affairs, or even engage in military provocations, will inevitably pay an "unbearable price."

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, issued the warning following a recent Japanese media report which said that a previous Japan-US joint military exercise had included a scenario involving airstrikes against Chinese naval forces landing on the Taiwan island.

China has always maintained that US-Japan military cooperation must not target any third party or undermine regional peace and development, he said.

READ MORE: Online platform receives over 3,000 ‘Taiwan independence’ activities reports

He reiterated that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, and how it is resolved is a matter for the Chinese people.

"No one should underestimate our firm resolve and strong capability to safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity," added the spokesperson.  

US-Taiwan military ties

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, meanwhile, said the Chinese mainland resolutely opposes any military ties between the US and Taiwan.

Stressing that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and allows no external interference, the office’s spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said: "We urge the United States to stick to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, handle the Taiwan question with the utmost caution, and stop instigating separatists to pursue secession by force.”

She also warned Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, led by Lai Ching-te, that seeking independence with US support is an erroneous path and resorting to military means will lead to a dead end.

READ MORE: PLA drills around Taiwan achieve designated results

The Chinese mainland continues to be the best option for Taiwan businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to invest and grow, she said, highlighting the mainland's unique advantages amid an increasingly complex and volatile global environment.

The mainland stands out with its expansive development opportunities, vast market potential, stable policy outlook and favorable security conditions, she added.

According to official data, cross-Strait trade totaled over 310 billion yuan (about $42.98 billion) from January to February this year, representing a 10 percent increase year on year. During the same period, the mainland's actual use of Taiwan investment reached $710 million, up 83.7 percent year on year, with 921 new Taiwan-funded enterprises established.

"More and more Taiwan businesses and compatriots are taking concrete actions to show that 'decoupling and severing ties' is not what people want, and integrated development is the only viable path forward," Zhu said.

DPP's 'despicable' acts

Zhu criticized DPP authorities for repeatedly smearing the mainland and attempting to obstruct cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in pursuit of "Taiwan independence".

"Their fabricated lies cannot withstand the test of facts. They will not fool Taiwan businesses or the public, nor can they stop people on both sides from working together, communicating, and seeking common development," she said.

ALSO READ: Mainland slams Lai Ching-te for remarks undermining peace, escalating tensions

Responding to a query about chipmaker TSMC's investment expansion in the US, the US imposition of a 32 percent tariff on Taiwan and Lai Ching-te's response to the issue, Zhu condemned the DPP authorities for what was described as "despicable" acts of kowtowing to the US and selling out Taiwan's interests.

The DPP authorities have willingly sold out the island's core strategic industries in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," but in return, Taiwan now faces high tariffs imposed by the US, which has shattered the deliberately constructed illusion of a so-called solid US-Taiwan relationship, she said.