China will not allow any group or political entity to split the country, President Xi Jinping said on Friday, giving a stern message to pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong. The semi-autonomous city has been on the edge following a controversy at an oath taking ceremony on October 12.

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"We will never allow any person, any group, any political party, at any time, in any way, to split from China any part of its territory," Xi said in a speech at China's famous Great Hall of the People. "To uphold our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, to never let our country split again and to never let history repeat itself - these are our solemn promises to our people and to our history."

President Xi's comment comes a few days after China's top legislative body delivered a landmark ruling that effectively barred the two pro-independent legislators from assuming office. The judgment, seen as China's most direct intervention in Hong Kong's affair, added more tension to the situation.

At heart of the oath-taking controversy are two recently elected legislators - Wai-ching and Sixtus Leung. Both legislators allegedly used derogatory words and unfurled anti-Chinese banners during an oath taking ceremony.  Subsequently, officials overruled their oath as invalid. 

Meanwhile, President Xi also took aim at Taiwan during his speech, reiterating the importance of recognizing the "1992 consensus" or "One China" principle.     

"Any Taiwanese political party, organization or individual - regardless of what they have advocated for in the past - as long as they recognize the '1992 consensus,' as long as they recognize the mainland and Taiwan are one China, we are willing to associate with them," Xi said.

President Xi's critical remarks come after Taiwan's ruling party Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) threw its weight behind the movement in Hong Kong, urging the Chinese government to listen to the aspirations of the Hong Kong people.

Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Tibet assume special importance for the Chinese government, considering that they are all prone to separatist movements. While China refuses to recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, Hong Kong, and Tibet became part of China under special circumstances.

Westerns countries have never been shy in expressing concern over China's so-called forceful intervention in these regions. The Chinese government, however, chooses to overlook these concerns on the pretext that they are internal matters of the country.

China has been more stubborn on the issue of Taiwan, with the island-nation electing pro-independent leader Tsai Ing-wen as president earlier this year. Tsai left the Chinese leadership miffed immediately after taking office after she refused to recognize the One China principle. 

TagsXi Jinping, Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong, china, China and Taiwan