Chinese President Xi Jinping made a bold statement during his New Year’s Eve address, declaring that China is determined to reunify with Taiwan, which it considers a self-governing territory. Xi emphasized the strong familial and historical connections between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, asserting that the trend towards national reunification is inevitable.
This declaration came on the heels of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s announcement that it had successfully concluded two days of military exercises near Taiwan. The military maneuvers, known as “Justice Mission 2025,” aimed to showcase the PLA’s joint operations capabilities and reinforce China’s sovereignty over the island.
Senior Capt. Li Xi, the spokesperson for the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, reiterated the military’s commitment to maintaining high combat readiness and thwarting any attempts at Taiwan independence or external intervention. While Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te criticized the exercises, he emphasized Taiwan’s responsible approach to avoiding escalation and disputes.
The longstanding issue of Taiwan has been a point of contention for China, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over the island and vowing to reclaim it by force if necessary. Taiwan separated from mainland China in 1949 following a civil war, with the communist government under Mao Zedong taking control of the mainland. China has been increasing military activities near Taiwan, with the recent maneuvers viewed as provocative by many observers.
In his New Year’s Eve address, President Xi also highlighted China’s advancements in key sectors such as military technology and space exploration. He praised the Chinese people for their contributions to the country’s economic growth and outlined plans for the upcoming five-year economic development strategy, which will be discussed at the legislative session in March.