Chinese President Xi Jinping has declared that reunification with Taiwan is an “unstoppable trend of the times,” reinforcing Beijing’s determination to bring the self-ruled island under its control, in a New Year’s Eve address that followed the conclusion of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) largest-ever live-fire military exercises around Taiwan.
In his televised speech on December 31, Xi emphasized shared kinship across the Taiwan Strait, stating: “We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship. The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable.”
The remarks came hours after the PLA wrapped up two days of intense drills, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025,” which involved rocket launches, over 200 warplanes, warships encircling the island, and simulations of blockading key ports—a direct response to a record $11.1 billion U.S. arms sale to Taipei.
Xi also celebrated China’s technological and military advancements, with visuals of innovations in AI, space exploration, and infrastructure accompanying his address, while praising the establishment of “Taiwan Retrocession Day” in 2025 to commemorate the end of Japanese rule over the island in 1945.
In a defiant response on January 1, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te pledged to resolutely defend the island’s sovereignty and accelerate defense buildup in the face of China’s “rising expansionist ambitions.” Speaking from the presidential office in Taipei during his New Year’s address, Lai said: “As president, my stance has always been clear: to resolutely defend national sovereignty and strengthen national defence.”english.president.gov.tw
Lai highlighted that China had targeted Taiwan’s newly enhanced combat capabilities as a “hypothetical adversary” in the recent drills, warning that “the coming year, 2026, will be a crucial one for Taiwan.”
He urged preparedness for the worst while hoping for the best, adding: “In the face of China’s increasing expansion, after Beijing fired rockets towards the island as part of military drills… the international community is watching to see whether the Taiwanese people possess the resolve to defend themselves.”
Despite the tensions, Lai expressed openness to dialogue: “We are willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China on an equal and dignified basis, promoting a peaceful and shared environment across the strait—as long as China acknowledges the existence of the Republic of China, respects the Taiwanese people’s desire for a democratic and free way of life.”
The dueling addresses have escalated concerns over cross-strait stability, with the U.S. State Department criticizing China’s actions for “unnecessarily” raising tensions and urging restraint.
Analysts describe the PLA exercises as the most extensive in scope to date, signaling Beijing’s growing confidence in pursuing its reunification goals, potentially by force if deemed necessary.
As 2026 begins, the Taiwan Strait remains a global flashpoint, with both sides digging in amid heightened military posturing.
Signpost News is an Imphal-based media house that focuses on delivering news and views from Northeast India and beyond.
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