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China warns Taiwan against pursuing independence

China warned the Taiwan's new president on Friday against pursuing independence.

Tsai Ing-wen, of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (CPP), won a landslide victory and was sworn in on Friday as Taiwan's first female president.

In her inaugral address, Ms Tsai urged Beijing to “set aside the baggage of history and engage in positive dialogue for the benefit of the people on both sides.”

Following her inauguration, China's Taiwan Affairs Office on Friday said in a statement:

"Today, our resolve to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity has not changed; our ability has strengthened. We will resolutely oppose any form of moves and plots towards Taiwanese independence and separatism."

"If independence is pursued, it will be impossible to have peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits."

"Independence is the greatest disaster for the peaceful development of peace in the Taiwan Straits and the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations."

Welcoming Ms Tsai's victory, the United States said it was "looking forward to working with the new administration, as well as with all of Taiwan's political parties and civil society groups to further strengthen the ties between the people of the United States and Taiwan."

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