*BEIJING:* Chinese President Xi Jinping warned self-ruled Taiwan on Tuesdaythat it will face the “punishment of history” for any attempt atseparatism, offering his strongest warning yet to the island claimed byChina as its sacred territory.

Taiwan is one of China’s most sensitive issues and a potentially dangerousmilitary flash point.

China’s hostility towards Taiwan has risen since the 2016 election ofPresident Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic ProgressiveParty. China suspects Tsai wants to push for formal independence, whichwould cross a red line for Communist Party leaders in Beijing, though Tsaihas said she wants to maintain the status quo and is committed to ensuringpeace.

China has been infuriated by US President Donald Trump’s signing into lawlegislation last week that encourages the United States to send seniorofficials to Taiwan to meet Taiwanese counterparts and vice versa. TheUnited States does not have formal ties with Taiwan but is required by lawto help it with self-defence and is the island’s primary source of weapons.

In a speech at the end of China’s annual session of parliament, Xi told the3,000-odd delegates that China would push for the “peaceful reunificationof the motherland” and work for more Taiwanese to enjoy the opportunitiesof China’s development.

“It is a shared aspiration of all Chinese people and in their basicinterests to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity andrealise China’s complete reunification,” Xi said.

“Any actions and tricks to split China are doomed to failure and will meetwith the people’s condemnation and the punishment of history,” he added, toloud applause.

China has the will, confidence and ability to defeat any separatistactivities, Xi said.

“The Chinese people share a common belief that it is never allowed and itis absolutely impossible to separate any inch of our great country’sterritory from China.” Agencies