Taipei: Taiwan’s premier Cho Jung tai said on Tuesday that the island’s people will not accept the idea of “returning” to China, responding firmly to recent remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a call with United States President Donald J Trump.

Premier Cho said Taiwan is a fully sovereign country and that its future must be decided only by the people who live on the island. He stressed that it is impossible for Taiwan to agree to Beijing’s “one country two systems” model, which he said has no support among the public or political parties in Taiwan.

His comments came after Xi told President Trump that Taiwan’s “return” to China after the Second World War is an important part of China’s view of the post war world order. Taiwan’s government strongly rejected this claim, saying Beijing is using history in a selective way to support its political goals.

The situation comes at a time of rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s defence ministry reported that a balloon from China crossed the median line of the strait, an action Taipei sees as part of growing pressure from Beijing.

Taiwan has also criticised China for increasing diplomatic and military activities around the island. Analysts say China has recently sharpened its statements on Taiwan as part of a longer term strategy to push its sovereignty claims.

The United States and Japan are also closely watching the situation. In Japan, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said that any military action by China against Taiwan would force Tokyo to consider its own security response.

Premier Cho said Taiwan will continue to work with international partners to maintain peace and stability in the region but added that the island will firmly defend its democratic way of life.