Chinese President Xi Jinping said China’s “reunification” with Taiwan is “unstoppable” in his New Year message, after the PLA завершend two days of major drills around Taiwan and as Washington advances an $11.1 billion arms package for the island.
What Xi Said In His New Year Message
Chinese President Xi Jinping closed out 2025 with a direct statement on Taiwan, describing cross-strait ties as familial and positioning Beijing’s long-standing goal of unification as inevitable.
In the nationally broadcast New Year message delivered from Beijing on December 31, Xi said people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait “share a bond of blood and kinship,” then added: “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable.”
Xi’s address was broader than Taiwan. He highlighted domestic economic and technology goals, including an expectation that China’s economic output would reach about RMB 140 trillion yuan in 2025, and pointed to advances in chips, AI models, and defense capabilities.
Military Drills Around Taiwan: “Justice Mission 2025”
Xi’s remarks came as China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) wrapped up a large, two-day military exercise around Taiwan, code-named “Justice Mission 2025.”
The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said the drills involved multiple services and were designed to test joint combat capabilities. Official descriptions said the activity covered the Taiwan Strait and waters around the island and included scenarios such as sea-and-air patrols and simulated operations focused on “critical ports and zones.”
China’s Ministry of National Defense framed the operation as a warning to pro-independence forces and “foreign interference,” calling it a necessary move to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Timeline Of Key Developments
| Date (2025–2026) | Event | Why It Matters |
| Dec 17, 2025 | U.S. DSCA issues multiple notifications for potential Taiwan arms sales, including HIMARS (estimated $4.05B) | Starts formal Congressional notification process for major packages |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Taiwan says the U.S. formally notified Congress of an $11.1B total package across eight items | Confirms scope and structure of the proposed sale |
| Dec 29–30, 2025 | PLA begins “Justice Mission 2025” drills around Taiwan | Signals escalation in military pressure and messaging |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Xi delivers New Year message: “reunification… unstoppable” | Elevates political messaging alongside military activity |
| Jan 1, 2026 | Taiwan reiterates deterrence posture while stressing it will not seek conflict | Taipei seeks to balance readiness with de-escalation |
The U.S. Arms Package: What’s In The $11.1 Billion Proposal
The new package is widely described as among the largest U.S. arms offerings to Taiwan in a single tranche and includes long-range fires, artillery, missiles, and support systems intended to strengthen deterrence.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs listed eight items in the proposed $11.1 billion sale, including HIMARS, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, Javelin and TOW systems, a tactical network/awareness kit, and support elements such as helicopter parts and Harpoon missile repair follow-on support.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) separately published case notifications, including a HIMARS package estimated at $4.05 billion, underscoring the scale of long-range fires in the overall tranche.
Snapshot: Main Elements Named By Taiwan’s Government
| Category | Examples Listed | Intended Effect (High-Level) |
| Long-range rocket artillery | HIMARS and related equipment | Improves precision strike and dispersed firepower |
| Tube artillery | M109A7 self-propelled howitzers | Strengthens conventional fire support |
| Anti-armor weapons | Javelin, TOW, anti-armor UAV missile systems | Raises costs for amphibious/ground assault scenarios |
| Networking & awareness | Tactical network / team awareness kit | Improves battlefield coordination |
| Sustainment & support | AH-1W parts; Harpoon repair follow-on support | Keeps existing fleets and systems operational |
How Taiwan Responded
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te condemned Beijing’s actions and rejected the idea that pressure would decide the island’s future.
In New Year messaging and public remarks during the drill period, Lai emphasized Taiwan’s intent to strengthen deterrence while avoiding unnecessary escalation, saying his administration would not provoke confrontation or seek conflict. He also thanked Taiwan’s military for maintaining readiness.
Taipei has increasingly argued that stability in the Taiwan Strait is a broader international security issue, given the sea lanes and supply chains that pass through surrounding waters.
Regional And International Reactions
Several governments expressed concern that the drills increased the risk of miscalculation and raised tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
- Philippines: Manila said it was “deeply concerned,” warning the exercises undermine regional peace and stability.
- Australia: Canberra described the drills as “deeply concerning” and “destabilising,” warning they risk inflaming regional tensions.
- Japan: Tokyo has repeatedly emphasized peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as a major security interest; the latest drill cycle drew renewed concern in regional diplomacy, amid heightened China–Japan tensions over Taiwan-related political remarks.
- United States: President Donald Trump publicly downplayed the drills, describing them as longstanding Chinese naval activity in the area and emphasizing his personal relationship with Xi.
Why This Matters Now
Xi’s “unstoppable” phrasing is not new in concept—Beijing has long rejected Taiwanese independence and insists Taiwan is part of China—but the timing and sequencing are significant: a forceful political message paired with a high-visibility military exercise and a major U.S. arms tranche.
Three dynamics are converging:
- More complex PLA joint operations. Official PLA messaging around “Justice Mission 2025” emphasizes integrated, multi-service operations and the ability to operate in multiple zones around Taiwan.
- Bigger, more bundled U.S. support. The $11.1 billion set of notifications is structured across multiple cases and includes systems associated with long-range precision fires and layered defense.
- Rising regional stakes. Statements from nearby states show growing concern that repeated large-scale drills normalize crisis conditions and increase the risk of accidents—especially as political rhetoric hardens.
What Comes Next
Several near-term steps will determine how quickly this cycle escalates or cools:
- U.S. Congressional review of the notified arms sales will be watched closely, along with any acceleration in deliveries, training, or sustainment support.
- Taiwan’s defense posture is likely to keep focusing on deterrence and readiness, while maintaining public messaging that it does not seek conflict.
- China’s future drill tempo will be a key signal. Beijing has increasingly used large exercises to set political “red lines,” deter external involvement, and demonstrate operational reach.
Xi’s New Year declaration that reunification is “unstoppable” underscores Beijing’s determination to define Taiwan’s future on its terms. But the simultaneous presence of high-end PLA drills, expanding U.S. arms support, and sharper regional reactions suggests the Taiwan Strait is entering 2026 under heavier strategic pressure—with less room for miscalculation on any side.
