Taiwan should not encourage any independence activities and must stick to the 1992 Consensus, Chinese President Xi Jinping said as a warning to the new leadership of Taiwan.
Xi was reiterating the official stance of China while speaking in the national legislature's annual session.
The newly elected Taiwan leader Tsai Ing–wen earlier January had said "common grounds the two sides should seek now" which experts feel should be explained as those words are ambiguous and may be considered provocative.
Tsai, a candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party, was defeating Eric Chu, the candidate of the Kuomintang party, which has ruled Taiwan for the past eight years.
"Our policy toward Taiwan is clear and consistent, and it will not change along with the change in Taiwan's political situation," Xi told the legislators.
"We will resolutely contain 'Taiwan independence' secessionist activities in any form," said Xi.
"We will safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and never allow the historical tragedy of national secession to happen again," Xi said.
"This is the common wish and firm will of all Chinese people. It is also our solemn commitment and our responsibility to history and the people," he said.
Cross-Strait relations will face a serious setback if the 1992 Consensus is not the political foundation, a China spokesperson said a few days after Taiwan elected its new leader on 16 January.
