CBC News visited Taiwan’s Kinmen islands, which are just a few kilometres across the bay from the Chinese city of Xiamen. The islands have been on the frontline of hostilities between China and Taiwan for more than seven decades.

Beijing has reiterated that it “absolutely will not” rule out the use of force to achieve what it calls “reunification” with Taiwan, striking a far tougher tone than recent state media commentaries that had focused on promises of peaceful governance.

China "absolutely will not" rule out using force over Taiwan, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday, striking a much tougher tone than a series of articles in state media this week that pledged benign rule if the island comes over to Beijing.

People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday commemorated the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China.

China’s push for reunification and Taiwan’s defence of democracy reveal enduring strategic, historical and ideological divides shaping the Taiwan Strait conflict. Read here

By bno - Taipei Office The United States and China have achieved their most meaningful progress in trade negotiations in months, with both sides signalling a thaw in relations during talks held on the margins of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia.