China warns Taiwan opposition as it names presidential candidate

Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen gives a speech during a news conference in Taipei April 15, 2015. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - China warned Taiwan's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Wednesday to heed the lessons of the last time it was in power and not push for independence, as the party announced its candidate for next year's presidential election.

The DPP's Chen Shui-bian infuriated Beijing during his time as president from 2000 to 2008. The Chinese accused him of trying to push for the island's independence and weaken its Chinese cultural heritage.