China’s Xi says ‘reunification’ with Taiwan ‘unstoppable’

Taiwan's Lai pledges to defend national sovereignty after Beijing holds live-fire drills around island.Published On 1 Jan 2026Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged to achieve the “reunification” of China and Taiwan, calling Beijing’s long-held goal “unstoppable.”In a New Year’s address delivered a day after China’s military wrapped up war games around Taiwan, Xi on Wednesday invoked the “bond of blood and kinship” between Chinese people on each side of the Taiwan Strait.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4New Year’s Eve celebrations as the world welcomes 2026list 2 of 4Trump says ‘removing’ National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portlandlist 3 of 4Ivory Coast fight back against Gabon to top AFCON group ahead of Cameroonlist 4 of 4US imposes more sanctions on tankers transporting Venezuelan oilend of list“The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable,” Xi said.Xi also hailed the institution in 2025 of an annual “Taiwan Recovery Day”, marking the end of imperial Japan’s rule of the island at the end of World War II.Xi’s speech came on the heels of two days of live-fire drills simulating a blockade of the island, in what officials called a “stern warning” against “separatist” and “external interference” forces.The drills were the largest ever held around Taiwan in terms of geographical area.The war games, codenamed “Justice Mission 2025”, came just days after the United States approved its largest-ever arms package to Taiwan, valued at $11.1bn.China views self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory and has long pledged to bring the island under its control, using force if necessary.Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party maintains that the island is a de facto independent country, though it has not formally declared independence.In his New Year’s Day address on Thursday, Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te pledged to “firmly” uphold national sovereignty and boost the island’s defences.“In the face of China’s escalating expansionist ambitions, the international community is closely watching whether the people of Taiwan have the determination to defend themselves,” Lai said.