Central gov't spokesman underscores progress in cross‑Strait ties in 2025

The year 2025 has been a year of resolute progress in cross-Strait relations, with great progress in cross-Strait cooperation, deepened integration and stepped up deterrence against separatist forces, a Chinese central government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, told a press conference in Beijing that the central government maintained the initiative and the ability to steer in cross-Strait relations, raised cooperation and integrated development to higher levels, and built momentum for national reunification in 2025.

"The year 2025 was a crucial year for developing cross-Strait relations despite all the difficulties and gathering strength for the reunification of China. We firmly held the initiative in cross-Strait relations, promoted cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation and integrated development to a higher level, and demonstrated a stronger ability to curb separatism and external interference. We also accumulated stronger momentum for advancing national reunification, and gathered more powerful strength to advance the great cause of national rejuvenation," said Chen.

In 2025, the central government overcome restrictions imposed by Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and broadened people-to-people contacts and cooperation across multiple sectors, the spokesman said.

"First, we broke through obstacles and continuously expanded cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. We overcame the obstruction and restrictions imposed by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities, continuously expanded cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and promoted closer ties and deeper and more practical cooperation between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," said Chen.

"Second, we continued to deepen cross-Strait integrated development and share with compatriots in Taiwan the opportunities of Chinese modernization. More and more people in Taiwan have come to realize that the two sides of the Strait are an indivisible community with a shared future, and that Taiwanese compatriots and businesses will always have the backing of the motherland," Chen continued.

"Third, we resolutely opposed Taiwan separatism and external interference, and firmly safeguarded the homeland of the Chinese nation. We held a symposium to mark the 20th anniversary of the enforcement of the Anti-Secession Law, and conducted exercises such as 'Strait Thunder 2025A' and 'Justice Mission-2025' to firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolutely safeguard the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. We punished die-hard secessionists and their henchmen and accomplices in accordance with law, and effectively deterred separatist forces from seeking secession and provoking conflict," said Chen.

"More and more people on the island have realized that the historic trend of national reunification is inevitable, and they are calling for cross-Strait relations to return to the right track of peaceful development," the spokesman said.

Central gov't spokesman underscores progress in cross‑Strait ties in 2025

Taoiseach of Ireland Micheal Martin, who wrapped up his five-day official visit to China, has praised China's progress in areas such as digital economy and green energy, saying Ireland is willing to deepen economic and trade cooperation with China in emerging sectors while enhancing cooperation on multilateral affairs.

It is Martin's first visit to China since taking office and the first by an Irish prime minister in 14 years.

Speaking during a joint interview with Chinese media outlets in Beijing, Martin spoke positively of the steady development of bilateral relations in recent years, highlighting closer people-to-people exchanges and growing ties in higher education.

"We now have a direct flight between Dublin and China and that's very important in terms of people to people. Our education links are very strong and we have many partnerships between Irish higher education institutions and Chinese higher education institutions and that's important," he said.

Martin said economic and trade ties remain a key pillar underpinning the sound development of bilateral relations.

He recalled that bilateral trade has seen exponential growth since his first visit to China 20 years ago, when he served as minister for enterprise, trade and employment.

Looking ahead, he expressed expectations for expanded cooperation with China in such emerging fields as digital economy and green transition.

"We will be embarking on a major investment in offshore renewables over the next decade. We already are in the planning process. It's a windy island, so we have a lot of wind to harness for energy. So we do see opportunities in AI as well. Ireland is a very strong location for investment, as a member of the European Union, the only English-speaking country now in the Eurozone and in the European Union. And it's a good access point to the European consumer market. We believe there's a greater opportunity for Chinese companies to locate in Ireland," he said.

As Ireland is set to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) in the second half of 2026, Martin said Ireland adopts a pragmatic policy towards China within the EU and stays committed to promoting a EU-China relationship framework that effectively manages differences while expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.

"What is important is that we continue to dialogue and see can we develop frameworks of agreement on the big picture. The WTO is also very important forum for resolving trade issues. Both Europe and China would acknowledge that industrial resilience, economic security issues are important issues, but that has to be balanced with an open free trade environment. So we are against tariffs. We think tariffs are ultimately damaging to the world economy," he said.

At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Martin paid an official visit to China from Jan 4 to 8. In addition to Beijing, he also visited Shanghai.

Irish Taoiseach sees broader cooperation with China in emerging sectors