Beijing vows to take “drastic measures” if Taiwan makes a formal declaration for independence, suggesting tensions between the two would spike to a higher level next year. Such a separatist attempt would be “a road to ruin” and must be reined in, said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the mainland Chinese government agency Taiwan Affairs Office during the Dec. 29 regular press briefing. Without naming Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Ma mentioned her independent-minded Democratic Progressive Party. The current ruling Party views Taiwan as a de facto nation called the Republic of China, although without a formal declaration for independence. “If separatist forces in Taiwan seeking independence provoke, exert force or even break through any red line, we will have to take drastic measures,” Ma warned. China claims the democratic island as its own to be seized one day. Without seeking provocations, Taiwan also vowed to defend its freedom at all costs …