Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on June 27, 2018. (Photo: taiwan.cn)

Beijing has slammed Taiwan island leader Tsai Ing-wen for calling for international efforts to "constrain" the Chinese mainland Wednesday.

Tsai called on the international community to "constrain China" and "minimize the expansion of their (China's) hegemonic influence" in an interview with AFP on Monday. Tsai accused the Chinese mainland of "expansion," adding that such an expansion "is not just Taiwan's challenge. It is a challenge for the region and the world."

Tsai's comments are totally groundless, and she intends to create hostility and confrontation between the mainland and Taiwan, said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office at a press conference.

The mainland respects Taiwan's current social system and lifestyle, and is willing to provide favorable economic opportunities to Taiwan residents, he added, in response to Tsai's statement that the Chinese Mainland is changing the lifestyle of Taiwanese people.

Relations across the Straits have deteriorated since Tsai took office in 2016. The current Taiwan administration is responsible for the deterioration because the authority refuses to acknowledge the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, which defines the nature of the relationship between both sides, and is the key to maintaining peace and stability across the Straits.

"Compatriots on either side of the Straits should stay vigilant to any attempt to deny the 1992 Consensus", Ma said.

(Compiled by Chi Jingyi)