Xi declares Taiwan reunification unstoppable
Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up 2025 with a stark declaration, asserting that reunification with Taiwan stands as an inevitable force. In his annual New Year's Eve address, he emphasized the deep blood ties binding people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, framing the island's return to the motherland as a defining trend of the era.
The statement came just a day after China's People's Liberation Army announced the successful completion of Mission Justice 2025, a two-day military drill that encircled Taiwan with warships, fighter jets, and missile forces. Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, highlighted how the maneuvers rigorously tested integrated joint operational capabilities.
These exercises followed the United States' approval of an unprecedented $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan on December 18, including HIMARS rocket systems, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, and drones—a deal now awaiting congressional nod. Beijing branded the drills a stern warning to Taiwanese separatists and external meddlers, simulating port blockades and maritime strikes across five zones around the island.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te sharply criticized China's moves as unbecoming of a responsible global power, vowing his government would neither provoke nor seek conflict. He praised Taiwan's military for its dutiful and professional response to the threats.
Regional unease mounted as Japan voiced concerns over heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, echoing Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's earlier hint at potential military involvement if China invades. The Philippines expressed deep worry, with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro warning of risks to regional peace, while Australia labeled the drills deeply troubling and destabilizing. US President Donald Trump downplayed the episode, citing his strong rapport with Xi and noting China's long history of naval exercises in the area.
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