BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that “no one can stop” the alliance with Taiwan, as he addressed the nation in a New Year’s address.
Beijing considers the autonomous island part of its territory, and has said it will not back down from using 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 came to power in May.
The last of these earlier this month were the largest in years, according to Taiwanese officials, although Beijing has not officially confirmed the moves.
The Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. “No one can break our blood ties and no one can stop the historical trend of reunification of 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 is a major point of contention between Beijing and Washington, which does not officially recognize Taiwan diplomatically but is its strategic ally and largest arms supplier.
US-China relations could worsen after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, with the president-elect promising more tariffs to punish China for unfair trade practices.
Beijing denies the allegations.