The seeking of Taiwan independence closes the door to dialogue, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said.

Speaking earlier on Sunday, Tsai said that Taiwan will keep bolstering its defences to ensure nobody can force the island to accept the path China has laid down, offering neither freedom nor democracy, and repeated a call for talks with the Chinese mainland.

"This speech advocated Taiwan independence, incited confrontation, cut apart history and distorted facts," China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Sunday night.

"The independence provocation by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities is the source of tension and turbulence in cross-strait relations and the greatest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," it added, referring to Tsai's ruling party.

Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Saturday to realise "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan and did not directly mention the use of force.

Still, he got an angry reaction from officials in Taipei, which said only Taiwan's people can decide its future.

Australian Associated Press