TAIPEI, Apr 29 (AP) -- Members of Taiwan's ruling party on Friday denounced opposition Nationalist leader Lien Chan for criticizing the island's democracy in a speech at Beijing's Peking University.

Lien's visit comes as China tries to combat Taiwanese pro-independence activists by reaching out to parties such as the Nationalists who favor uniting the two sides. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has threatened to attack if the self-ruled island tries to make its independence permanent.

Lien told an audience of students at the elite university that the two sides should "build a bridge to unite our people."

Lien mentioned the island's democracy in his speech, but also said democracy could "recede." He faulted the island's judiciary for a lack of impartiality.

But lawmakers of the Democratic Progressive Party said he should've said more about the self-ruled island's positive sides.

"In a communist country, on dictatorial, authoritarian land, he came to belittle the democratic achievements of his own country, that's very unsuitable," said senior DPP legislator Lai Ching-te.

Lawmakers said Lien went too far in pandering to China.

"(Lien) sees the People's Republic of China as his motherland, and the DPP government as the enemy," Lai said.