statement said.

Taipei-Beijing tensions

China's Communist leadership refuses to maintain diplomatic ties with any country that recognizes the self-governed and democratic Taiwan, an island of 23 million people off China's southeastern coast that Beijing regards as part of its territory.

The two have been separately governed since the end of a bloody civil war on the Chinese mainland in 1949. Since then, Beijing and Taipei have competed to gain economic opportunities and diplomatic support from governments around the world -- with the trend very much in China's favor.

Tensions between the two governments worsened in 2016 after the election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. Her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has a history of supporting a declaration of official independence from China, even though Tsai herself has publicly opposed such a move.

After the26, 2017.

Political interference allegations

The diplomatic spat comes as Tsai is facing a tough reelection battle in January.

Her main rival is Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Han Kuo-yu, mayor of the southern city Kaohsiung and a supporter of stronger ties with Beijing. Protests against the previous KMT government's plans for closer economic ties with China are widely credited with helping bring Tsai to power.

January's election became more of a two-horse race this week, after billionaire Foxconn founder Terry Gou officially dropped out of the race. Gou -- who said he was inspired to run by a goddess -- had failed to win the KMT nomination but was still threatening to stage an independent bid for the presidency, potentially cutting into Han's base.

In its statement Monday, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said attempts