"We will resolutely contain the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist activities in any form," Xi said, as quoted by the Xinhua news service, on the first day of the annual National People’s Congress (NPC) session.
Taiwan became self-governed in the 1940s after a civil war, but China still considers it to be part of its territory. The dispute arose after nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) forces retreated to the island of Taiwan, as the Communist forces gained control of mainland China, in 1949.
On January 16, the long-standing majority KMT was unseated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), securing a majority in Taiwan's legislature and winning the presidential vote.
The DPP presidential nominee Tsai Ing-wen won with over 56 percent of the vote, and is set to be officially inaugurated as the country's first female president in May.
Tsai Ing-wen pledged to maintain Taiwan’s status quo of de-facto independence, further straining Beijing-Taipei ties.
