President Xi Jinping reiterated his call for China to "reunite" with Taiwan, the self-ruled island China claims as its own, during an address on the eve of national holiday celebrations. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te rejects China's claim on the island and Beijing in turn regards him as a "dangerous separatist".

Xi Jinping has claimed "no challenge can stop China" in a chest-thumping speech to mark the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese president also reiterated his vision for Chinese reunification with Taiwan during his address at a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry said on Sunday it was on alert after detecting "multiple waves" of missile firing deep in inland China, days after Beijing said it had carried out a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.