China's Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will conduct regular exercises in response to whether it would pressure Taiwan and strengthen patrols around the island."Taiwan is part of China. The PLA will conduct regular exercises as part of the yearly plan. We have reiterated that we will sincerely do all we can to strive for a peaceful reunification. We have the capability, confidence and means to safeguard national unity, security and sovereignty," Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, told a press conference on Thursday.Ren's remarks were in response to assumptions in Taiwan that the PLA would increase patrols around the island to beef up military pressure.Taiwan's leader Tsai Ing-wen said Thursday at an event marking the 30th anniversary of cross-Straits exchanges that the end of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China signals an "opportunity for change," as she called for dialogue with President Xi Jinping.Taiwan media reported that a recent poll shows that more than 52 percent of the people in Taiwan "are dissatisfied with Tsai's performance in dealing with cross-Straits ties."Global Times