China defense chief vows 'resolute actions' against Taiwan independence

SINGAPORE -- China's Defense Minister Dong Jun on Sunday warned that his country will take "resolute actions" to curb any move toward Taiwan independence, pushing Beijing's claim on the territory amid high tensions with the U.S. and the new government in Taipei.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense forum in Singapore, Dong slammed Taiwan's pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party for pursuing what he called "separation in an incremental way." The DPP's Lai Ching-te, who won the presidential election in January, was sworn in on May 20, after which China launched two days of military "punishment" drills encircling Taiwan and its outlying islands.