Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphatically declared that China’s reunification with Taiwan represents an “unstoppable trend of the times,” delivering this message during his New Year address just one day after Beijing concluded extensive military exercises around the self-governing island. The speech, which invoked the “bond of blood and kinship” between peoples on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, came in response to what Chinese officials characterized as escalating separatist activities and external interference.
The military maneuvers, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” marked the largest-ever geographical scope of exercises conducted around Taiwan, simulating a comprehensive blockade of the island using live ammunition. These demonstrations followed Washington’s approval of its largest-ever weapons package to Taipei, valued at $11.1 billion, further complicating the already tense cross-strait dynamics.
President Xi additionally highlighted the establishment of an annual “Taiwan Restoration Day” commencing in 2025, commemorating the end of Japanese colonial rule after World War II. While emphasizing peaceful reunification, Xi reiterated Beijing’s longstanding position that considers Taiwan an inalienable part of Chinese territory, maintaining the option of using force if necessary.
In a parallel New Year address, Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te asserted the need for enhanced security and resilience, stating that Taiwan must “powerfully defend national sovereignty” and strengthen its defense mechanisms. Lai emphasized that the international community is watching whether the Taiwanese people possess the determination to defend themselves against China’s “expanding expansionist ambitions.
Despite operating with its own government, military, passport system, and currency, Taiwan maintains official diplomatic recognition from only 11 countries and the Vatican. The United States, while not formally recognizing Taiwan, remains committed to supporting the island’s self-defense capabilities under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, though this legislation does not mandate direct military intervention in case of Chinese aggression.
Recent polling indicates that most Taiwanese citizens prefer maintaining the current status quo, with only minor segments advocating for immediate formal independence or reunification with mainland China.
Beyond geopolitical matters, President Xi’s address also celebrated China’s technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence and semiconductor development, noting that numerous large AI models have emerged while breakthroughs in domestic chip research have positioned China among the world’s fastest-growing innovation economies.