China’s president used his New Year’s Eve address to reaffirm one of his central priorities: bringing Taiwan under Beijing’s control. Speaking in Beijing shortly after large-scale military exercises around the island concluded, Xi Jinping said, “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable,” according to the Guardian.
The remarks came a day after China’s military wrapped up “Justice Mission 2025,” a two-day series of live-fire drills that simulated a blockade of Taiwan’s major ports. The exercises encircled the island with naval, air force, rocket force, and coast guard units, and involved at least 89 military aircraft—the highest number reported in more than a year. Analysts said the drills were anticipated before the end of the year but were also widely viewed as a response to a recently approved $11 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan.
Xi’s comments highlighted how central Taiwan remains to his broader vision of reshaping the global order, one in which other nations accept Beijing’s claim over the self-governed island. Public opinion in Taiwan strongly opposes unification under Communist Party rule, while U.S. intelligence agencies have increasingly focused on China’s growing military capability to carry out an attack should Xi decide to pursue that option.
The address aired on state media alongside footage from September’s large military parade marking 80 years since the end of World War II. Xi also emphasized China’s strengthening relationships with leaders such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, both of whom stood beside him during the Beijing parade.
Economic and technological themes featured prominently in the speech. Xi pointed to advances in science, culture, and innovation, citing achievements such as the Tianwen-2 comet mission and internationally successful entertainment projects like the video game Black Myth: Wukong and the animated film Ne Zha 2. As he spoke, screens displayed images including humanoid robots performing kung fu, according to the Associated Press. “We sought to energize high-quality development through innovation,” Xi said.
Earlier the same day, Xi told senior Communist Party officials that China remains on track to meet its annual economic growth target of around 5%.