Overview
- Premier Li Qiang told the National People's Congress that China would "firmly strike" so‑called Taiwan independence forces, upgrading last year's wording that merely opposed such activity.
- The government work report prioritized building "advanced combat power" and reducing reliance on personnel, while PLA media stressed battlefield dominance through cutting‑edge technology.
- State and military messaging pointed to expanded use of high‑tech systems, with reporting indicating large‑scale unmanned platforms could feature prominently in a Taiwan contingency.
- Reporting highlights recent removals of senior PLA figures, including Zhang Youxia, with experts saying reshuffles favor more aggressive Taiwan operators even as some units may face temporary capability gaps.
- Li emphasized positive outcomes in 2025 U.S.–China economic talks, with coverage noting rare‑earth export curbs and an October "trade truce," as the NPC convened ahead of Trump's visit and during ongoing U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran.