'Tsai Ing-wen's Speech Incites Confrontation'

Mainland authorities on Sunday denounced a speech by Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen, saying it incited confrontation and distorted facts.

The seeking of Taiwan independence closes the door to dialogue, the Taiwan Affairs Office said, adding that the country must be reunified.

Spokesman Ma Xiaoguang further accused the Democratic Progressive Party of colluding with foreign forces.

Speaking earlier, Tsai had said the island would continue to boost its defences and try to maintain the status quo in cross-strait relations.

She also said the people of Taiwan would not accept the path laid out by Beijing for the island, adding that differences between the two sides must be resolved through dialogue on an equal footing.

But Ma said the “so-called ‘maintenance of the status quo’ is just an attempt to deceive the world.”

"The independence provocation by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities is the source of tension and turbulence in cross-strait relations and the greatest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he added. (Additional reporting by Reuters)