TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China’s defense minister renewed threats that his country would take over self-ruled Taiwan as he opened a security forum in Beijing on Thursday.

The “restoration” of Taiwan to China “is an integral part of the post-war international order,” Dong Jun told an audience of international military officials attending the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, an annual event where China aims to project regional leadership and boost military cooperation.

Beijing considers Taiwan — a democracy of 23 million people that has been governed separately from China since 1949 — to be a breakaway province, and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control. China puts military pressure on Taiwan by sending warships and aircraft near the island almost daily.

Taiwan’s President

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