China is upping its military spend by a high single percentage, this was conveyed during the during the ongoing second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s national legislature.
A military spokesperson commented on the defense budget, and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. “During discussions at the NPC session, lawmakers from the military delegation said efforts should be made to step up the effective supply of advanced combat capabilities and better modernise the national defense and the armed forces based on China’s composite national strength” he said.
This year, China plans to spend 1.66554 trillion yuan (about 234.5 billion U.S. dollars) on national defense, up 7.2 percent from the actual figure in 2023, according to a budget report submitted to the session for deliberation. In contrast the United States National Defense budget is in the region of US$800 billion, substantially higher than any other nation on the planet.
With US continuing to supply arms on Taiwan to much of the chagrin of China, the spokesperson skirted the issues instead saying China is willing to work with utmost sincerity and do all it can to strive for peaceful reunification. However added that PRC will never leave any room for separatist activities seeking ‘Taiwan independence.
