title: Taiwan says its 23 million people will decide their future
text: TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan s government said on Wednesday that it was  absolutely  the right of Taiwan s 23 million people to decide their future, after Chinese President Xi Jinping said any attempt to separate the island from China would be thwarted. The perpetration of Taiwan s democratic system is a core value of Taiwan s, the Mainland Affairs Council said in reaction to Xi s speech. China considers democratic and self-ruled Taiwan to be a wayward province, to be brought under Beijing s control by force if necessary. 