Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Wednesday that he welcomed equal, dignified, healthy and orderly exchanges with China, but wondered whether there was goodwill from Beijing given what he said was their blocking of simple things like tourism.

"The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family," Mr Xi said in a speech televised on China's state broadcaster CCTV. “No one can sever our family bonds, and no one can stop the historical trend of national reunification.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping in a New Year's address declared Taiwan and China to be one people and said no nation can stop China from annexing the island nation.

New Years address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Taiwan and China are "one family," and that "no one can prevent" the unification of the motherland.The comments are similar to remarks made last year,

In a bold New Year’s address, Xi Jinping asserted that China's reunification with Taiwan is unstoppable, intensifying military pressure on the island amidst rising tensions. The speech signals Beijing's firm stance against perceived independence movements while Taiwan's government insists on self-determination.

Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that no one could prevent China's 'reunification' with Taiwan and emphasized continuous 'united front' efforts. Xi stressed building global cooperation and understanding for a shared future.