Beijing raps Taiwan's Tsai over call to 'constrain' China

China lashed out today at Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen after she urged the international community in an AFP interview to "constrain" China before it does irreparable damage to global democracy.

Her comments are "misleading and totally baseless", the spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office told a regular press conference.

Tsai's "objective is to create enmity between compatriots across the straits", said Ma Xiaoguang, referring to Chinese separated by the Taiwan Strait.

She is "plotting to contain the great rejuvenation of the Chinese race", he said, adding that she "overestimates her own influence".

A transcript of Ma's remarks was published by the official Xinhua news agency.

In the interview on Monday, Tsai urged overseas nations to unite with Taiwan in defending themselves against China's expansionist aims and protecting shared liberal values.

"This is not just Taiwan's challenge, it is a challenge for the region and the world as a whole, because today it's Taiwan, but tomorrow it may be any other country that will have to face the expansion of China's influence," Tsai told AFP.

"Their democracy, freedom and freedom to do business will one day be affected by China," Tsai added. "We need to work together to reaffirm our values of democracy and freedom in order to constrain China and also minimise the expansion of their hegemonic influence."