Chinese President Xi warns ‘no one can stop unification with Taiwan’ in chilling threat on New Year’s Eve

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that “no one can stop unification with Taiwan” in a chilling threat on New Year’s Eve.

Beijing claims the self-governing island as part of its territory and has said it will not refrain from using force to bring it under its control.

China has increased pressure on the democratic island in recent years, staging three rounds of major military exercises since President Lai Ching-te took power in May.

The latest of these earlier this month were the largest in years, according to Taiwanese officials, although Beijing has not officially confirmed the maneuvers.

‘Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. No one can break our blood ties, and no one can stop the historic trend of reunifying the motherland,” Xi said in a speech broadcast on state media.

Xi’s comments come just weeks before Donald Trump takes office in the United States.

Taiwan remains a major point of contention between China and the US.

Although the US does not formally recognize Taiwan, it is an important strategic partner and the main arms supplier.

People walk past a screen showing Chinese President Xi Jinping delivering a New Year’s message in Beijing, China, December 31, 2024

A parade unit of the Chinese Armed Forces during the Victory Day military parade on Red Square on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in World War II, on June 24, 2020 in Moscow, Russia

The US-China relationship could deteriorate further after Trump is inaugurated on January 20, with the president-elect promising more tariffs to punish what he calls unfair trade practices by China.

However, Beijing denies the allegations.

China views Taiwan, a self-governing island, as its territory and insists it will use force if necessary to gain control.

Beijing has increased pressure on Taiwan and has conducted three major military exercises since President Lai Ching-te took office in May.

The latest drills, which took place earlier this month, were reportedly the largest in years, according to Taiwanese officials.

In October, China carried out “total blockade” exercises around Taiwan after Taipei vowed to oppose any attack in Beijing in the same month.

China deployed fighter jets and warships to encircle Taiwan in exercises that Beijing said were intended to send a “stern warning” to “separatist” forces on the self-ruled island.

Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control and the exercises represented the fourth round of large-scale war games in the past two years.

In May, after the inauguration of Ching-te, large-scale exercises – called Joint Sword 2024A – were announced, combining air and naval operations and missile forces, encircling Taiwan from all sides while simulating a blockade.

The exercises “focused on topics such as patrols in preparation for sea-to-air combat and the blockade of key ports and areas,” said Capt. Li Xi, spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command.

Armed military vehicles patrol outside Taipei’s Songshan Airport after China deployed fighter jets and warships to encircle Taiwan on October 14. Beijing said these exercises were intended to send a ‘stern warning’ to ‘separatist’ forces on the self-governing island

Taiwan Navy Kuang Hua VI-class missile boats maneuver at Keelung Military Port in Keelung City, Taiwan, October 14, 2024

Footage captured Taiwan’s coast guard alerting a Chinese ship spotted near the Matsu Islands

They also practiced an “attack on maritime and ground targets” and deployed fighter jets and warships, Chinese state media said.

China warned that efforts for “Taiwan independence” and peace were “incompatible” as its military launched its exercises.

“Taiwan independence and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, warning that “provocations by pro-independence forces will inevitably be met with countermeasures.”

The United States called China’s actions “unjustified” and risked “escalation.” They called on Beijing to act with restraint.

China has increased military activities around Taiwan in recent years, sending fighter jets and other military aircraft, while its ships maintain a near-constant presence around the island’s waters.

“In the face of enemy threats, all the country’s officers and soldiers are on full alert,” Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said at the time of the exercises.

President Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party has long defended the sovereignty and democracy of Taiwan, which has its own government, military and currency.

But Beijing said the exercises were “a legitimate and necessary operation to protect state sovereignty and national unity.”

The current dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to a civil war in which Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist forces were defeated by Mao Zedong’s communist fighters and fled to Taiwan in 1949.

Since then, China and Taiwan have been governed separately.