08/11/2012 16:20
China will not allow any force to separate Taiwan from motherland
China's President Hu Jintao warned Taiwan Thursday against any moves towards independence but called for the two sides to continue the exchanges that have helped ease their longtime rivalry.
"We resolutely oppose any separatist attempt for Taiwan independence," Hu said in an address to his ruling Communist Party's five-yearly congress.
"The Chinese people will never allow anyone or any force to separate Taiwan from the motherland by any means," Hu said in the speech, in which he also stated his country's intention to become a "maritime power" and further build up its military.
China regularly issues such warnings on Taiwan but relations between the two sides have warmed considerably under Hu. Semi-official talks between China and Taiwan resumed in 2008 after being suspended for more than a decade.