Chinese President Xi Jinping declared in a speech on July 1 that China will complete its reunification with Taiwan, and vowed to "smash" any attempts at formal independence.

China considers the self-ruled island to be part of its territory, and has made similar statements in the past, most notably that Taiwan is a "non-negotiable" core issue.

Xi said that "solving" the Taiwan question and realising the "complete unification of the motherland" is the task of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and claimed that it was the "common aspiration of all Chinese people", according to Reuters.

The speech was made on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CCP.

Xi also directed part of his speech to people in Taiwan, saying,

"All sons and daughters of China, including compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, must work together and move forward in solidarity, resolutely smashing any 'Taiwan independence' plots."

In recent months, China has flown fighter jets into Taiwanese airspace, often after comments on Taiwan were made by U.S. and European officials.

In response, Taiwan's China policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said that while the CCP had achieved "certain economic development", it remained a dictatorship that trampled on people's freedoms.

It suggested that the Party should embrace democracy instead.

"Its historical decision-making errors and persistent harmful actions have caused serious threats to regional security," it added.

Top image via Xinhua/Facebook