Beijing/Taipei, December 31 (ANI): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday declared that the “reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable,” delivering the message in his New Year address just hours after the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) concluded large-scale military drills encircling Taiwan under the codename Justice Mission 2025.
In remarks released by China’s Foreign Ministry, Xi linked the reunification message to what he described as landmark national commemorations, including the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the establishment of Taiwan Recovery Day. He said these events were “majestic and powerful,” inspiring the Chinese people to remember history, honour fallen heroes, cherish peace, and work toward national rejuvenation.
Xi also reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to the “One Country, Two Systems” policy, citing his recent attendance at the opening ceremony of the National Games and praising what he called unity among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. He said China would continue to support Hong Kong and Macao in integrating into the country’s overall development while maintaining long-term prosperity and stability. Emphasising cross-strait ties, Xi said people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait “share a bond of blood and kinship,” reiterating that reunification is inevitable.
His comments came as the PLA Eastern Theatre Command announced the successful completion of Justice Mission 2025. According to a statement posted on X by China Military Bugle, citing Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command, the drills fully tested the PLA’s integrated joint operations capabilities. He said the command’s troops would remain on high alert, strengthen combat readiness through intensive training, resolutely thwart what Beijing calls “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and external interference, and safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The exercises involved coordinated deployments of the PLA’s Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force, conducting joint drills in the Taiwan Strait and in areas north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan.
Taiwan, however, has strongly criticised the drills. Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the PLA’s actions were provocative and posed a threat to regional stability, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND).
Alongside the military activity, Taiwanese authorities warned of an intensifying Chinese disinformation campaign aimed at undermining public morale and confidence. The MND said at least 46 pieces of false information had been identified since the start of the drills. According to The Taipei Times, Major General Chu Hui-fang, head of the MND’s Political Warfare Bureau, said many of the fabricated narratives were spread through Chinese state-linked media and social platforms.
One false claim circulated by the state-run Global Times alleged that Chinese coast guard vessels had blockaded major Taiwanese ports, including Keelung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Hualien—an assertion Taiwan firmly denied. Another misleading video claimed PLA units had advanced to within nine kilometres of Taiwan’s southern coastline. The MND clarified that no such movements had occurred and that all detected PLA aircraft and naval vessels remained outside Taiwan’s territorial waters.
Lieutenant General Hsieh Jih-sheng, deputy chief of the general staff for intelligence, also dismissed footage aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV that purported to show drone activity near Taipei 101. While some drone activity was detected during the exercise period, none entered Taiwan’s contiguous zone, which extends 24 nautical miles from the coast, he said.
MND spokesperson Sun Li-fang noted that since August 2022 Beijing has increasingly paired military drills with information warfare, targeting not only Taiwan but also neighbouring countries and international audiences sympathetic to Taipei. These efforts, she said, are intended to manipulate perceptions and weaken regional resolve. President William Lai echoed the warning, urging citizens to remain vigilant and united, stressing that societal resilience and close cooperation between civilians and the military are essential to counter psychological warfare and protect Taiwan’s democratic system.
The drills concluded amid heightened cross-strait tensions following Washington’s recent approval of a record arms sale to Taiwan, estimated at over USD 11 billion. According to the US State Department and Focus Taiwan, the potential sale includes eight arms packages featuring HIMARS rocket systems, M109A7 howitzers, anti-tank missiles, drones and FGM-148 Javelin systems. Five of these packages are covered under a USD 39.85 billion special defence budget proposed by Taiwan’s government and are pending legislative review.
In response, China announced countermeasures against the United States, imposing sanctions under its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law on 20 US defence-related companies and 10 senior executives involved in supplying weapons to Taiwan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the measures would take effect immediately.
As Justice Mission 2025 ends, Xi’s New Year message and Taiwan’s warnings of information warfare underscore a continuing escalation in military, political and psychological pressure across the Taiwan Strait, keeping regional tensions high as the new year begins. (ANI)
793 words, 4 minutes read time.
About The Author
