Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Chinese President Xi Jinping says China’s “reunification” with Taiwan “will certainly be realized,” calling it an “unwavering historical mission” of the Communist Party, a week before he’s set to meet President Trump.

Getting into it: Speaking Thursday at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Xi said China remains committed to peaceful reunification under its “one country, two systems” model and is willing to talk with “people of vision” in Taiwan who accept that both sides are part of one China. He said Beijing would take Taiwan’s “realities” into account but “never leave any room” for independence.

Xi didn’t bring up military action, though Beijing has never taken it off the table. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council shot down the remarks, saying “one country, two systems” is a nonstarter for both the government and the public.

The same day, Taiwan’s defense ministry tracked 29 Chinese warplanes and drones flying around the island alongside Chinese warships in what it called a “joint combat readiness patrol.” In addition to this, Taiwanese officials say Beijing sent more than 100 navy and coast guard ships into the waters around Taiwan and out across the western Pacific earlier this month, in one of the biggest naval shows of force China has ever staged.

This all comes ahead of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, where Xi is expected to meet Trump, and with Taiwan heading into key local elections later this month.

Notably, Trump paused a $14 billion weapons sale to Taiwan in May, calling it a “very good negotiating chip” with China, and US officials have indicated it may come up during talks next week.