The office of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has said that leaders across the strait should seek a new model of interaction for a peaceful relationship.
It came in response to a strong-worded speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 19th National Communist Party Congress on Wednesday. He said the party will defeat any form of Taiwan independence.
Xiās work report also stressed the One-China principle, the 1992 consensus over a single China, and the peaceful reunification of the country. Beijing considers the island-nation to be a renegade province.

The response from Tsaiās office, however, did not mention the 1992 consensus, which China has repeatedly demanded Tsai recognise. In 1992, both sides agreed to interpret the notion of āone Chinaā by their own definitions.
The response from the office said that it is the responsibility of both sides to maintain peace, stability and peopleās wellbeing.
āPresident Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly stressed: āOur pledges will not change, and our goodwill will not change. But we will not bow to pressure, and we will of course not revert to the old path of confrontation,ā this is our fundamental attitude,ā it said.
It urged for a mutually beneficial interaction to resolve confrontation and differences.
āThe international community understands clearly Taiwanās effort,ā it said.
Tsaiās office also said leaders across the strait, in facing new situations, should work together with determination and patience to seek together a new model of interaction, and to lay the foundation for a long and stable peaceful cross-strait relationship.

Meanwhile, Taiwanās Mainland Affairs Council said it regretted that Xiās report maintained existing policies, and highlighted Chinaās ādefensive and besieging attitudeā towards Taiwan.
āWe hope that in this key new moment, when mainland China seeks the increase of its general power and structural reform, it should push for policies on ādemocracy, peace, fairness and justice,ā It should face the cross-strait relationship healthy with a new mindset,ā a statement from the Council said.
āOnly then it can fulfil its promise of āmaking bold innovations and staying away from rigidity,ā and become the defender of peace of the Taiwan strait and the region.ā
The Council said that political differences were not impossible to resolve.
āWe solemnly urge the other side of the strait to face a fact ā constructing by force a āOne China principleā and āOne Country, Two Systemsā policy can hardly convince the people,ā it said. āWe can only find common ground by truly respecting Taiwan, understanding Taiwan.ā