“It’s peace, not war; development, not regression; interactions, not separation; and cooperation, not confrontation that represent the prevailing public sentiment in Taiwan society,” said Chen Binhua, spokesman of China’s State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, commenting on Lai’s possible inauguration speech on Monday.

The spokesman said Lai “must decide whether to heed the people’s aspirations and pursue the path of peaceful development or deviate from public opinion,” Anadolu Agency reported.

China considers Taiwan as its breakaway province, but the latter has insisted on its independence since 1949.

US interventions regarding the Taiwan issue, which is contrary to the one-China policy, have raised tensions recently.

MP/PR