China said on Monday it would never tolerate any separatist schemes for self-ruled Taiwan, and would safeguard China's territorial integrity with the aim of "reunification" with an island it considers its sacred territory.

US bill

Premier Li Keqiang issued the warning in a speech at the opening of the annual session of China's parliament, his stern words coming amid mounting Chinese anger over a US bill that seeks to raise official contacts between Washington and Taipei.

The US legislation, which only needs President Donald Trump's signature to become law, says it should be US policy to allow officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan to meet their counterparts, and permit high-level Taiwan officials to enter the US "under respectful conditions" and meet US officials.

On March 2, China said Taiwan would only get burned if it sought to rely on foreigners, adding to the warnings from state media about the risk of war.

Peaceful reunification

Premier Li Keqiang said that China would promote the peaceful growth of relations across the Taiwan Strait and "advance China's peaceful reunification".

"We will remain firm in safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and will never tolerate any separatist schemes or activities for Taiwan independence," Li said, to applause from the 3,000-odd legislators at the Great Hall of the People.

"As fellow Chinese living on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, we share a bond of kinship. As long as we go with the tide of history and work together for our nation's greater good, we will together create the future - a beautiful future of national rejuvenation."

Zhang Zhijun, head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, told reporters after Li had finished speaking that "we have resolute will, full confidence and even fuller ability to prevent any sort or form of Taiwan independence separatist acts."

Taiwan's view

Speaking in Taipei, Huang Chung-yen, a spokesman for Taiwan's Presidential Office, said protecting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait was the joint responsibility of both sides.

"On cross-strait relations, our country's policy of being committed to regional peace and protecting stability across the strait has always been clear and consistent," Huang told reporters.

China suspects that Taiwan's recently-elected President Tsai Ing-wen wants to push for formal independence, which would cross a red line for Communist Party leaders in Beijing, though Tsai has said she wants to maintain the status quo and is committed to ensuring peace.

"When it comes to cross-strait relations, Taiwan, of course, has never been the one which brings a negative impact."





One China

Beijing considers democratic Taiwan to be a wayward province and an integral part of "one China", ineligible for state-to-state relations, and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control.

Hong Kong has been another troublesome area for China's leadership, especially after students organised weeks of protests in late 2014 to push for full democracy.

China will continue to implement to the letter and in spirit the "one country, two systems" method of rule for the Chinese territories of Hong Kong and Macau, Premier Li said.