Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that “no one can stop” unification with Taiwan, as he addressed the nation in his New Year speech.
Beijing claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has said it will not renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.
China has stepped up pressure on the democratic island in recent years and has held three rounds of major military exercises since President Lai Ching-te took power in May.
Taiwanese officials said the latest operations earlier this month were the largest in years, although Beijing has not officially confirmed the moves.
“Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. No one can sever our blood ties, and no one can stop the historic trend of reunifying the motherland,” Xi said in a speech broadcast by state media.
Xi’s comments come just weeks before Donald Trump takes office in the United States.
Taiwan is a key point of contention between Beijing and Washington, which does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically but is its strategic ally and largest arms supplier.
Relations between the United States and China could deteriorate further after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, with the president-elect vowing to impose more tariffs to punish what he calls China’s unfair trade practices .
Beijing denies these allegations.
