A security guard follows Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech on a screen in Beijing.Image: keystone
December 31, 2025, 1:58 p.mDecember 31, 2025, 1:58 p.m
In his New Year’s address, China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping highlighted the country’s technological progress and at the same time reiterated its claim to reunification with Taiwan. “The reunification of our motherland is a trend of the times and cannot be stopped,” Xi said.
At the beginning of the week, the Chinese military held large-scale maneuvers around Taiwan. Observers viewed the exercises, among other things, as a reaction to newly approved US arms deliveries to the island. Taiwan is governed democratically. China, on the other hand, views the island republic as part of its national territory and threatens violent “reunification” if a peaceful solution fails.
Technological advances
In terms of foreign policy, the Chinese leader said China is on the right side of history and is ready to work with all countries to advance peace and development in the world and contribute to a fairer global order.
In the speech distributed on New Year’s Eve (local time), Xi also spoke about the country’s technological strengths. Several large AI models are in intense competition, and at the same time there have been breakthroughs in the development of their own semiconductors. There is also progress in humanoid robots and drone technology.
New five-year plan begins
As examples of further successes in the past year, Xi cited the launch of the Tianwen-2 space probe to research asteroids and comets and the start of construction on a large hydropower project in Tibet. In addition, China’s first aircraft carrier with an electromagnetic catapult system was officially put into service.
Looking ahead to 2026, Xi said he would use the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan to further reform, deepen opening-up policies and achieve high-quality growth.
(hah/sda/dpa)