xi-jinping-s-new-year-speech-sends-clear-warning-to-taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned in his New Year’s address that no force could prevent the reunification of Taiwan with mainland China. The comments were aimed at those Beijing considers pro-independence forces both within Taiwan and abroad.

 

Over the past year, China has significantly intensified military activity near Taiwan, dispatching warships and aircraft almost daily into the waters and airspace surrounding the island.

 

Taiwanese officials view these actions as part of a broader attempt by Beijing to "normalise" its military presence near the self-governing island.

 

China regards Taiwan, which operates as a democratically-governed entity, as its territory. Taiwan, however, rejects Beijing’s claim and insists that only its people can determine their future, urging Beijing to respect their choice.

 

“The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. No one can sever our family bonds, and no one can stop the historical trend of national reunification,” Xi said, speaking on China’s state broadcaster CCTV.

 

In his speech last year, Xi reaffirmed his belief that Taiwan’s reunification with China was inevitable and called for a shared sense of purpose across both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

 

Tensions have remained high throughout 2024, particularly after Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing labels a “separatist”, assumed office as Taiwan’s new president in May.

 

Earlier this month, China staged large-scale naval drills around Taiwan and the East and South China Seas following a controversial trip by Lai to Hawaii and Guam, which Beijing strongly criticised.

 

Beijing, which has never renounced the use of force to reunite Taiwan with the mainland, has conducted multiple rounds of military exercises near the island, warning against "separatist acts". It has pledged to take further action if necessary.

 

China’s ongoing military pressure has also been exacerbated by US arms sales to Taiwan, which have strained relations between Beijing and Washington.

 

China has frequently warned the US against any military engagement with Taiwan, and retaliated by imposing sanctions on military suppliers and their executives.