At the December 17 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Recently, the 2025 Cross-Strait “Character of the Year” was announced in Taipei. Netizens from across the Strait and overseas enthusiastically participated, with total votes exceeding 15.82 million. The character “势” (“momentum,” “trend,” or “force”) was selected as the 2025 Cross-Strait Character of the Year with over 1.28 million votes. What is your comment?
Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that the selection of the character “势” by a high number of netizens—especially compatriots on both sides of the Strait—reflects a shared perception of the pulse of the times. It signifies that the historic trend of national reunification and national rejuvenation is surging forward with great momentum and cannot be stopped.
The choice of “势” is the simplest way for people on both sides of the Strait to add a footnote to the reunification process in the new era: Reunification is the just and prevailing trend, and it will inevitably converge into an unstoppable tide of the times. From the perspective of the historical principle that “the trend of the times cannot be resisted,” resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete national reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people and an essential requirement for realizing national rejuvenation. A growing number of Taiwan compatriots, upholding the greater national interest, are actively participating in the great cause of national rejuvenation and demonstrating through action that “people on both sides of the Strait are one family.” From the perspective of the “unstoppable momentum” of popular will, more and more Taiwan compatriots recognize the destructive nature of the “Taiwan independence” forces—how they harm Taiwan, endanger Taiwan, and bring ruin to Taiwan—and firmly oppose separatism and external interference in defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. From the perspective of the mission to “act in accordance with the trend,” we continue to deepen cross-Strait economic and social integration, roll out policies that benefit Taiwan compatriots, and advance cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in a deeper and more pragmatic way, enabling Taiwan compatriots and enterprises to share development opportunities, strengthen emotional bonds, and build a more solid, more favorable, and more dynamic foundation for reunification.
As compatriots in Taiwan have said: Choosing “势” is choosing hope, choosing the future! This hope is the aspiration to “ride the momentum” and jointly realize the Chinese Dream; this future is the vision of “gathering momentum into a tide” to jointly promote reunification. We will unite with our Taiwan compatriots, follow the trend of history, enhance shared benefits through exchanges and cooperation, strengthen emotional bonds through integrated development, and together build the powerful force driving national reunification and rejuvenation, opening a vast new chapter for the Chinese nation.