Taiwan responds to Xi's address by announcing that it will not compromise on its sovereignty

 The self-governing island's presidential office declared on Sunday that Taiwan will not give up its independence or compromise on freedom and democracy, and that its people categorically reject Beijing's proposal to control Taiwan as "one country, two systems."

Taiwan issued a statement saying that meeting on the battlefield was "absolutely not an option" for the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. "Taiwan's position is firm: no backing down on national sovereignty, no compromise on democracy and freedom," it said.

The declaration came shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that it is up to the Chinese people to settle the Taiwan issue and that China will never abandon the use of force in relation to Taiwan in a speech at the start of the Communist Party Congress in Beijing.

The presidential office stated, "This is the consensus of Taiwan's people," and added that the national security team was closely monitoring developments at the congress.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen stated that going to war with China was not an option in her speech for Taiwan's national day on Monday. She also repeated her openness to communicate with Beijing while pledging to continue bolstering Taiwan's defences.

Premier Su Tseng-chang of Taiwan, who China sanctioned last year on the grounds that he was a separatist, told reporters on Sunday that Mr. Xi should concentrate on his own people.

Mr. Su added, "Xi Jinping should pay heed to the smoke and protest banners on the Sitong Bridge in Beijing, rather than always thinking about employing force to deal with Taiwan," in reference to the seldom political protest flags that were displayed on an overpass in Beijing on Thursday.

Tsai is not allowed to speak to China because they view her as a separatist.