Chinese president highlights reunification with Taiwan in his traditional New Year message Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his New Year message, emphasized reunification with Taiwan, which he described as a “separatist province,” on Friday, December 31. “The complete reunification of our homeland is an aspiration shared by people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits,” Xi said, without explicitly mentioning the island. This year, there have been significant tensions in the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from Taiwan, as Taipei has increased its interaction with the United States and its allies. Washington has strengthened Taipei’s defense capabilities, especially during…