In his New Year’s Eve address, Xi Jinping reiterated China’s vow to “reunify” with Taiwan—coming on the heels of major Chinese military drills around the island. It’s a familiar line delivered at a deliberate moment: when the public is listening, and when recent shows of force make the message feel less rhetorical.
The sequencing matters. Speeches set narrative; drills set capability. Putting them close together reinforces a two-part signal: the political goal hasn’t changed, and China wants Taiwan—and the wider region—to assume the military pressure can scale.
For Taiwan, statements like this aren’t just symbolism. They shape threat perception, defense planning, and domestic politics. For neighbors and markets, they raise the baseline risk around shipping lanes, aviation routes, and regional stability—even if no immediate escalation follows.
The takeaway is straightforward: Beijing is keeping reunification front-and-center, pairing top-level messaging with visible military activity to normalize a higher-pressure status quo around Taiwan.
