Updated

Chinese President Xi Jinping renewed calls for reunification with Taiwan on Thursday, saying it was unstoppable, while refraining from mentioning the use of force. Deutsche Welle reported that the remarks came in a speech marking the 160th birthday of Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader who helped overthrow China's imperial dynasty in 1911. Xi said reunification was an unwavering historical mission for the Communist Party and that China would never leave any room for Taiwan independence separatist activities. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council swiftly rejected the remarks, saying neither the government nor the people would accept being placed under Beijing's rule, and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh said the wording was not much different from the past. Deutsche Welle noted that Xi has in the past said Beijing would not rule out military force, and that the speech came ahead of an APEC summit in Shenzhen where he is expected to meet US President Donald Trump. On the same day, Taiwan said Chinese fighter jets, drones and warships had begun a joint combat readiness patrol around the island.