It was set at approximately $257 billion, a 7.2% increase from last year
The peaceful reunification with Taiwan is omitted
As was the case last year, the Korean Peninsula is not mentioned
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China, the world’s second-largest defense spender, set its defense budget for the first time at over approximately $250 billion at the National People’s Congress government work report on March 5th. This decision symbolizes China’s determination to strengthen its defense capabilities amid intensified competition for hegemony with the United States. Analysts say this takes into consideration the heightened military crisis in the Taiwan Strait as the pro-US and independent-leaning Democratic Progressive Party succeeded in a third term in Taiwan and the increasing containment of China by the US and Southeast Asian countries in the South China Sea, where China claims sovereignty. The omission of peaceful reunification in the Taiwan-related text is expected to heighten further tensions between the two sides, China and Taiwan.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance set this year’s defense spending at approximately $257 billion, a 7.2% increase from last year, in the budget plan reported at the annual National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Although this increase is the same as last year, it marks the highest growth in two years since 2020. The rate of increase in China’s defense budget was recorded at 7.5% in 2019, 6.6% in 2020, 6.8% in 2021, and 7.1% in 2022.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized in the 19th Communist Party National Congress in October 2017 that “China will complete the modernization of its national defense and military by 2035 and build a world-class military by 2050”, highlighting his intention to create the world’s strongest military surpassing the United States. China, which successfully developed a jet engine last year and is embarking on constructing a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is not hiding its ambition to become a military power.
The day before, the spokesperson of the National People’s Congress, Lou Qinjian, emphasized at a press conference that China’s defense spending is low in terms of GDP, national finances, and per capita defense spending, strongly suggesting the possibility of increasing the defense budget. Bloomberg predicted that “the actual defense budget will be much larger than the announced figure as it does not include R&D spending and local governments also contribute to defense spending.”
Unlike last year, the phrase “opposing hegemonic acts of aggression” was inserted in the diplomatic field, which is interpreted as targeting the US, a strategic competitor. China reiterated its one country, two systems principle for Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions. On the other hand, the tension level has risen compared to last year as Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party won the presidential election in Taiwan in January and continued her administration. The adjective peaceful was omitted from the part mentioning reunification, and it was firmly stated that “we will firmly promote the great cause of reunification of the motherland.” The content “promoting economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two sides” included last year was deleted entirely. As President Xi, who emphasizes Taiwan’s reunification, is expected to have the ability to invade Taiwan by force by 2027, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, tensions between the two sides are expected to escalate further.
Meanwhile, there was no mention of the Korean Peninsula this year, as did last year. Experts predict that China will solidify the North Korea-China-Russia structure against the US, Japan, and South Korea by expanding exchanges with North Korea and Russia, celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
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