SpaceWar.com reports: “China warned on Monday that efforts towards independence for Taiwan were a ‘dead end’ after the island swore in new President Lai Ching-te.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has long threatened to use force to bring the island under its control.

It has described Lai as a ‘dangerous separatist’ for his past comments on Taiwan’s independence — rhetoric that he has moderated in recent years.

Asked about his inauguration Monday, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned: ‘Taiwan independence is a dead end.’

‘No matter under what guise or banner, the pursuit of Taiwan independence and secession is doomed to fail,’ he added…”