Chinese Communist Party marks 105 years, Xi urges Taiwan reunification and stronger military

2026-07-01

The Chinese Communist Party held a ceremony in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Tuesday to mark its 105th anniversary. General Secretary Xi Jinping, who is also state president, referred to the Taiwan issue and said, 'We will resolutely advance the cause of national reunification.'

Taiwan reunification and party goals

All seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, including Xi, attended the ceremony. Xi called on the party to 'press ahead across the board toward the grand goals of building a great modern socialist country and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.'

He said Taiwan reunification is a historic task of the party and expressed a willingness to promote exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and deepen integrated development between the mainland and Taiwan. He also said, 'We must resolutely crack down on Taiwan independence separatist forces and oppose interference by external forces.'

US rivalry and military buildup

Xi's leadership has regarded the Lai Ching-te administration in Taiwan as 'Taiwan independence separatist forces' and has been wary of US involvement in the Taiwan issue. It has called on the United States to stop selling weapons to Taiwan.

In his speech, Xi urged party unity in preparation for confrontation with the United States, which is competing for hegemony. With Trump's tariffs in mind, he said, 'Uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing. We must be prepared to withstand rough seas and major trials.'

He said the PLA would meet the 2027 deadline for the 'centenary military building goal' and be developed early into a 'world-class military' capable of countering the US military. He also stressed that China will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Party control and membership growth

Xi also called for stricter internal governance, upholding the party's absolute leadership over the military and a thorough anti-corruption campaign. In China, investigations into party and military officials suspected of corruption have continued, with figures including Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and the top uniformed officer, among those under scrutiny.

In China, the party sits above the government and leads everything from politics to the economy. The party said on June 30 that membership stood at 100.128 million at the end of 2025, up by more than 1 million in a year. At its founding in 1921, it had about 50 members, but it surpassed 100 million by the end of 2024.

Party members are regarded as elites in China and are seen as having advantages in employment and promotion. There were about 20 million people nationwide who had already applied to join the party as of the end of 2025.

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