Xi Jinping Vows Reunification of Taiwan in New Year's Eve Speech Amid Military Drills and Diplomatic Highlights
On New Year's Eve 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech in Beijing vowing to reunify Taiwan, describing the reunification as unstoppable. This declaration followed days of live-fire military drills conducted by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) around Taiwan, codenamed Justice Mission 2025, which simulated a blockade and encirclement involving at least 89 warplanes. US intelligence expressed concerns about the PLA's capability to launch an attack on Taiwan if Xi decides to act, a situation compounded by a record US arms sale to Taiwan worth about $11 billion.
In his speech, Xi reaffirmed the One China principle, emphasizing that Taiwan is part of China under the Chinese Communist Party's authority, despite the fact that most Taiwanese people reject reunification. The broadcast also featured Taiwan Retrocession Day, a 2025 memorial marking the end of Japanese rule, coinciding with Taiwan's recognition of October 25 as a national holiday.
Xi highlighted China's progress in high technology, referencing innovations such as kickboxing robots, and achievements in space and cultural sectors, including Tianwen-2, the video game Black Myth: Wukong, and the film Ne Zha 2. The address also celebrated multilateral events hosted by Beijing in 2025, especially the Shanghai Cooperation Summit held in Tianjin with participation from leaders including Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Footage of a September military parade showcased a strong display of force, with appearances by Xi, Putin, and Kim Jong-un, described by some as an "axis of upheaval."
Earlier the same day, Xi told top CCP officials that China was on track to meet its 5% GDP growth target for the year.
