China aims to increase defense spending by 7.2% this year, in line with Xi Jinping's ten-year military buildup policy, while also adopting draconian rhetoric.
This number represents an increase over the same level as last year. And higher than China's 5% GDP growth target for this year.
The budget report released by Premier Li Qiang during the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress today (March 5) is notable for China's choice to delete the word “budget.” “Peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, a move that reflects a stronger position on the Taiwan issue. Which Beijing insists is its sovereign territory.
According to Li Mingjiang, a defense expert from S. Rajaratnam International Studies Center in Singapore said that although China is facing an economic recession, the Taiwan issue remains an important agenda, which prompts China to continue investing heavily in military spending.
“China shows that within the next 10 years it will upgrade its military power to the point where victory in the war is guaranteed. If war is necessary, there is no choice,” Li said.
Since Xi Jinping became China's president and commander-in-chief more than a decade ago, China's military budget has increased from 720 billion yuan in 2013 to 1.67 trillion yuan this year. It is an increase at a level higher than the targeted economic growth for each year on an ongoing basis.
China's defense budget is monitored by both neighboring countries and the United States. Which has always been skeptical about the strategic goals and development of the Chinese military
International Institute for Strategic Studies The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) estimates that most of the budget is likely to be used to purchase weapons and equipment to achieve Xi's goal of fully modernizing the Chinese military by 2035, the International Institute for Strategic Studies said. Because China increased its defense budget for the thirtieth year in a row. year.
While the Chinese documents still refer to “reunification” with Taiwan, they emphasize the “firm” approach to achieving this goal, while the “peaceful” (peaceful) definition of previous reports has been omitted.
The Ministry of Defense and Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council have not yet commented on China's move. But there was word from Taiwan's Defense Minister on Thursday that the Taipei Army intends to hold more frequent missile exercises this year.
Wen Te Song, a political scientist at the Atlantic Council's Global China Center, acknowledged that China's budget report this year contained “unusual” language. 'Somewhat more difficult' on Taiwan issue Beijing appears to be trying to strike a balance between an aggressive assertion of sovereignty and nurturing relations between China and Taiwan's international allies.
Source: Reuters
