China's Xi urges unity amid challenges in Taiwan, Hong Kong

Published November 11, 2016

A band conductor leads a military band as China's top leaders arrive for a commemorative meeting held to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, founding father of the Republic of China and founder of the Chinese National Party (KMT) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (The Associated Press)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the commemorative meeting to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, founding father of the Republic of China and founder of the Chinese National Party (KMT) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (The Associated Press)

A band conductor leads a military band as participants leave near a commemorative meeting held to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, founding father of the Republic of China and founder of the Chinese National Party (KMT) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. Portrait in the background is of Sun.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (The Associated Press)

China's President Xi Jinping is making a strong call for unity among all Chinese people amid political turmoil in Hong Kong and rising independence sentiment in self-governing Taiwan.

Xi spoke Friday on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, China's first president and the godfather of Chinese nationalism, who continues to command broad respect within China and the Chinese diaspora.

Speaking to an audience at the colossal Great Hall of the People in central Beijing, Xi again called on Taiwan's leaders to endorse the principle that the island and mainland China are parts of a single Chinese nation. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has refused to make such a concession.

Beijing has also registered alarm over anti-China sentiment in Hong Kong among newly elected members of its legislative council.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/chinas-xi-urges-unity-amid-challenges-in-taiwan-hong-kong