标签： Asia

The 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s restoration to China was commemorated in Beijing through a forum organized by the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League. The event underscored the historical significance of Taiwan’s return to its motherland in 1945, marking the end of 50 years of Japanese colonial rule. Shaw Kai-ping, a 73-year-old attendee, shared his family’s poignant story of resistance against Japanese aggression. His father, Shaw Daoing, born in Japanese-colonized Taiwan in 1916, joined the mainland’s war effort in 1940 as a frontline medic, embodying the spirit of unity and sacrifice. Shaw emphasized the importance of educating Taiwan’s youth about their shared heritage and the necessity of reunification. He expressed concern over the current ‘de-Sinicization’ efforts by Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party, which he believes undermine Taiwan’s national will and dignity. Chi Hsing, president of The Observer magazine in Taiwan, highlighted the patriotic spirit of Taiwan’s forebears and called for Oct 25 to be designated as Taiwan Restoration Day on the mainland. Huang Ching-hsien, a professor at Nankai University, reiterated that Taiwan’s status as part of China is confirmed by international law and stressed the need for collective efforts to achieve true restoration and a bright future for Taiwan.

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded its fourth plenary session in Beijing from October 20 to 23, 2025, setting the stage for the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and advancing Chinese modernization. The session, attended by 168 Central Committee members and 147 alternate members, along with key officials and experts, was presided over by the Political Bureau, with General Secretary Xi Jinping delivering pivotal addresses. The plenum reviewed the Political Bureau’s work since the third plenary session, unanimously affirming its achievements in implementing the Party’s 20th National Congress directives, deepening reforms, and ensuring high-quality development. The session adopted the Recommendations for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, emphasizing the critical role of this period in achieving socialist modernization by 2035. The plan outlines strategic priorities, including economic resilience, technological self-reliance, green development, and national security. The plenum underscored the importance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, calling for unwavering Party leadership, reform, and innovation to overcome challenges and seize opportunities in a complex global landscape. The session also addressed key areas such as industrial modernization, rural revitalization, cultural development, and public wellbeing, aiming to build a prosperous, sustainable, and secure China. The plenum concluded with a call for unity and determination to achieve the Second Centenary Goal of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), concluded on Thursday, has unveiled a comprehensive communique that outlines the nation’s strategic objectives and developmental roadmap for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). This document, far from being a mere policy statement, serves as a foundational guide for China’s socioeconomic advancement over the next five years. It emphasizes the importance of upholding the Party’s overall leadership, prioritizing the people’s welfare, pursuing high-quality development, and deepening reforms to foster a harmonious interplay between an efficient market and a well-functioning government. The communique also underscores the dual focus on development and security, ensuring a balanced approach to national progress. The session’s outcomes are of paramount strategic significance, providing clear directives to authorities at all levels and showcasing the efficacy of China’s governance system. By delineating the country’s policy direction, economic priorities, reform commitments, and opening-up strategies, the plenum has reinforced global confidence in China’s developmental trajectory. The communique reflects the CPC’s astute assessment of both domestic and global landscapes, highlighting the Party’s pragmatic and holistic approach to policymaking, which consistently prioritizes the people’s interests and tangible results. Key initiatives include building a modernized industrial system, bolstering the real economy, achieving greater self-reliance in science and technology, consolidating a robust domestic market, accelerating the green transition, and promoting high-standard opening-up. These endeavors embody the Party’s foresight and unwavering commitment to high-quality development under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The communique also reaffirms China’s modernization drive as a boon not only for its 1.4 billion citizens but also for global growth, offering new opportunities and certainties. Through collaborative initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, China continues to champion a more equitable, balanced, and inclusive international order. The nation’s steadfast determination to achieve comprehensive modernization and national rejuvenation remains unshakable, with external forces unable to impede its progress or undermine its core interests. Guided by the Party’s leadership, China will advance with confidence, unity, and resilience, transforming its strengths into concrete achievements and realizing its modernization vision step by step. The next five years will be pivotal in China’s modernization journey, demonstrating how perseverance, reform, and innovation can pave the way for a brighter future.

In her inaugural policy address, Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced a significant acceleration of the nation’s military expansion and spending. Takaichi, who assumed office earlier this week as Japan’s first female leader, emphasized the urgent need to revise the country’s security strategy ahead of schedule, citing escalating tensions with China, North Korea, and Russia. She pledged to achieve an annual military expenditure target of 2% of GDP by March, moving up the original 2027 deadline. The revised security strategy, now slated for completion by the end of 2026, reflects Japan’s response to the rapidly changing global security landscape, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing Middle East conflicts. Takaichi highlighted the destabilization of the international order due to shifting power dynamics and intensifying geopolitical rivalries, particularly in Japan’s vicinity. She underscored the necessity of proactive defense measures to counter military activities by neighboring nations. Her administration also faces the challenge of balancing domestic economic issues, such as rising prices and stagnant wages, with the need to secure opposition support for her policies. Additionally, Takaichi’s hawkish stance and historical views, including her visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, could strain Japan’s relations with China. Her government’s alignment with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party has further fueled concerns about Japan’s political shift to the right. On the economic front, Takaichi acknowledged the critical role of foreign workers in addressing Japan’s labor shortage but emphasized strict enforcement of regulations to address public concerns over unlawful activities by some foreigners. She tasked the Economic Security Minister with tightening regulations on foreign residents and studying potential restrictions on land purchases by non-Japanese nationals, particularly Chinese investors. This approach aligns with the growing populist sentiment in Japan, which has seen a surge in foreign workers amid a shrinking domestic workforce.