Beijing not to permit Taiwan split from China: President Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned Taiwan against any independence drive, saying Beijing will never give the self-ruled island nation permission to break off from the mainland.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Shanghai delegates to the opening session of the annual National People’s Congress in Beijing on Saturday.

“We will resolutely contain ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist activities in any form, safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and never allow the historical tragedy of the nation being split to happen again,” he said.

The Chinese president further said Beijing’s policy towards Taiwan was consistent, adding it “will not change along with the change in Taiwan’s political situation.”

The comments seemed to be directed at Tsai Ing-wen and her pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that secured a landslide victory in Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary elections in January.

Tsai defeated Eric Chu, candidate of the pro-Beijing Kuomintang (KMT) party, which has ruled Taiwan since 2008.

She will assume office in May, replacing Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou, who signed a series of key economic deals with Beijing.

Tsai has vowed to maintain the “status quo” with China and focus on economic issues. However, the president-elect has refused to endorse the “one-China principle,” which underpinned eight years of improved relations between the former civil war foes.

China and Taiwan are separated by the Taiwan Strait in the western Pacific Ocean. They split in 1949 following a civil war, but Beijing still regards the island as part of its territory.

“Compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are expecting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and we should not disappoint them,” Xi added.

On Saturday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also pledged to fight any push by Taiwan to formalize its split from the mainland.

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