National reunification is critical to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and cannot be stopped by anyone or any force, a mainland spokesperson said on May 20.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks when asked to comment on what Taiwan's leader Tsai Ing-wen said about cross-Strait relations in her address earlier the day.

"Taiwan independence" goes against the tide of the times and it is a path to nowhere, Ma said.

"We uphold the fundamental guideline of 'peaceful reunification and one country, two systems,' and we are willing to create vast space for peaceful reunification, but we will definitely not leave any room for separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' in any form," he said.

Tsai took office in Taipei and started her second term as Taiwan's leader on May 20.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed strong indignation and condemnation over congratulations by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other officials to Tsai on her inauguration.