China's state-run media warned Monday that Taiwan's pro-independence ruling party could still "cause chaos" despite a massive setback in legislative elections.
The People's Daily said the Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, would stop at nothing to ensure victory in Taiwan's March presidential poll, including calling martial law or other emergency measures.
"Some (DPP) authorities have already shown they will not accept … that their time is up and are pushing an agenda that includes announcing martial law or other war-like actions," the paper said in its overseas edition.
The legislative defeat on Saturday would not stop DPP leaders from "acting recklessly" to maintain their rule, it said in a commentary.
"They are placing all their hopes on 'achieving victory through chaos' and that by first creating a chaotic situation they can make more plans and take bigger actions," it added.
Officials at the Cabinet-level Taiwan Affairs Office were unavailable to immediately comment on Taiwan's elections and China's foreign ministry refused to say what the DPP's defeat meant for the party's independence aspirations.
The opposition Kuomintang, which favours better ties with the mainland, and its allies captured 86 seats in the 113-member parliament while the DPP won just 27 seats.
Beijing had feared a DPP victory in the legislative elections would have put the party on course to win the March presidential poll, when a successor to the DPP's independence-leaning President Chen Shiu-bian will be elected.
War-like rhetoric from Beijing ahead of Taiwan's two previous presidential elections was seen as key in getting Taiwanese voters to support Chen.
China's government and media largely refrained from commenting ahead of Saturday's vote.
China views Taiwan as a rebel province awaiting reunification and has vowed to use force to retake the island should it declare formal independence.
