Overall Highlights

• Increased military tensions between China and Taiwan are evident, with both sides ramping up military readiness.
• China asserts its commitment to reunification with Taiwan, emphasizing its stance against foreign interference.
• Taiwan is urging unity and increased defense spending in response to perceived threats from China.
• International reactions include concerns from the EU, UK, and Philippines regarding China’s military drills around Taiwan.
• Both sides are engaging in a war of words, with accusations of hypocrisy regarding military exercises.

China Perspective (China Sources)

• China warns against ‘playing with fire’ regarding Taiwan, emphasizing its stance on reunification.
• President Xi Jinping vows that Taiwan reunification is ‘unstoppable’ in his New Year speech.
• China criticizes comments from Japan and other countries regarding its military drills, calling them hypocritical.
• Chinese military exercises are seen as testing strategies to wear down Taiwan’s defenses, according to Chinese sources.
• China’s military drills are framed as necessary responses to perceived threats from Taiwan and its allies.

Taiwan Perspective (Taiwan Sources)

• Taiwan’s leadership is calling for unity on defense budgets as China increases military pressure.
• Taiwan vows to defend its sovereignty following China’s military drills, maintaining a state of alert.
• Taiwanese experts express concerns over the island’s lack of effective rocket interception capabilities against Chinese threats.
• The Taiwanese military remains on high alert despite China’s announcement that drills have concluded.
• Taiwan’s government is actively seeking international support against China’s military actions.

Sources

This summary is based on 20 articles from the following sources:

1. [en-US] U.S. MILITARY SAYS CONDUCTED A LETHAL KINETIC STRIKE ON TWO VESSELS - news.cgtn.com (1/1/2026)
2. [en-US] Chinese mainland warns against ‘playing with fire’ on Taiwan question - news.cgtn.com (12/31/2025)
3. [en-US] Was PLA’s Taiwan drill testing ‘inexpensive’ ways to wear down air defences? - South China Morning Post (12/31/2025)
4. [en-US] In New Year’s speech, Xi urges growth, vows ‘unstoppable’ Taiwan reunification - South China Morning Post (12/31/2025)
5. [en-US] China repeats call for retraction of Japanese PM’s Taiwan comments - China Daily (12/31/2025)
6. [en-US] Full text: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2026 New Year message - China Daily (12/31/2025)
7. [en-US] Comments by Japan, other countries on military drills around Taiwan hypocritical: Chinese spokesperson - 新华网 (12/31/2025)
8. [en-US] Beijing hits back at ‘extremely hypocritical’ critics of drills around Taiwan - South China Morning Post (12/31/2025)
9. [en-US] Taiwan commentator on signals from latest PLA drills - news.cgtn.com (12/31/2025)
10. [en-US] Taiwan scholar: ‘Justice Mission 2025’ has powerful deterrence - news.cgtn.com (12/31/2025)
11. [en-US] Lai urges unity on special defense budget as China ramps military pressure - Focus Taiwan (1/1/2026)
12. [en-US] Chinese ships withdraw as exercises come to end - Taipei Times (12/31/2025)
13. [en-US] Languages are not nationalities - Taipei Times (12/31/2025)
14. [en-US] Taiwan vows to defend sovereignty after China's military drill - Taipei Times (12/31/2025)
15. [en-US] TAO, MAC trade barbs over military exercises - Taipei Times (12/31/2025)
16. [en-US] Taiwan military remains on alert as China says drills concluded - Focus Taiwan (12/31/2025)
17. [en-US] Taiwan lacks effective rocket interception capability: Experts - Focus Taiwan (12/31/2025)
18. [en-US] EU, UK, Philippines express concern over China’s latest drills - Focus Taiwan (12/31/2025)
19. [en-US] TSMC officially begins 2nm chip volume production in Q4 2025 - Taipei Times (12/30/2025)
20. [en-US] Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen port over weapons, issues stark warning to UAE - Taipei Times (12/30/2025)