In this Oct. 25, 2008, file photo, tens of thousands of Taiwan supporters rally to denounce China in Taipei, Taiwan. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)

       TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- Taiwan urged China to end its authoritarian rule and start talks with the self-ruled democratic island as the Chinese Communist Party celebrated its 100th anniversary on Thursday.

       The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's top government agency handling China policy, called on the Beijing authorities to face up to the realities of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and talk with the current government in Taipei.

       "Abandon your political precondition and military intimidation," it said. "Consider our call for peace, parity, democracy and dialogue, so the relationship between the two sides could move forward in a positive and sustainable direction."

       Saying the government of President Tsai Ing-wen is resolved to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the council emphasized the administration's firm commitment to defending Taiwan's sovereignty and democratic freedom.

       The council also urged Beijing to respect the public opinion of the 23 million people of Taiwan, who it said have long rejected the "one-China principle" and "1992 Consensus."

       The reference is to the tacit understanding, believed to have been reached in 1992 by Taiwan's then-ruling Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party that Taiwan and China are both a part of "one China," with each side free to interpret what that means.

       However, the "1992 Consensus" is not recognized by Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party, which has traditionally more skeptical of forging closer ties with Beijing.

       In an hour-long televised address from Tiananmen Square after watching fighter jets in a flyby, Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to build up China's military and commit to the "reunification" of Taiwan with the mainland.

       "Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment of the Communist Party of China," Xi said, while rejecting the idea of Taiwan independence.

       He pledged to uphold the "one-China principle" and "1992 Consensus" when advancing "peaceful national reunification."

       Taiwan and mainland China have been governed separately since they split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing has since regarded Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

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