In an official document, China is abandoning its desired “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan and increasing its military spending by 7.2%, which has risen sharply since President Xi Jinping came to power, Reuters reported, citing official documents released by Beijing on Tuesday. .

The rise in military spending mirrors the percentage outlined in last year’s budget plan and comes despite structural problems facing China, the world’s second-largest economy, which sent its stock market crashing earlier this year.

The government in Beijing also tightened its wording on Taiwan, releasing budget data on Tuesday, dropping the phrase “peaceful reunification” in a speech delivered by Premier Li Qiang at the opening of the National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a simulation of Beijing. parliament.

The Chinese government says in a new document that it is “reiterating” its calls for reunification with Taiwan, stressing instead that it wants to be “firm” on the issue. While this is not the first time a communist government has abandoned the phrase “peaceful reunification,” any such changes are closely watched for signs of a tougher stance on Taiwan.

The new move comes amid a sharp escalation of tensions in recent years between China and Taiwan, a democratic island nation that Beijing considers part of its national territory.

China has been increasing its military spending for 3 decades

Li Mingjiang, a defense studies expert at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore, told Reuters that despite the challenges facing the Chinese economy now, Beijing’s increasing emphasis on “reunification” with Taiwan is one of the main reasons for the increase in the budget allocated to the armed forces.

“China is showing that it wants to build up its military in the next decade to a level where it is ready to win a war if it has no choice but to fight,” Li said, referring to the Taiwanese government’s refusal to bow to pressure from Beijing.

Since Xi Jinping became president and supreme commander of China’s armed forces more than a decade ago, China’s defense ministry’s budget has grown to 1.67 trillion yuan (about $230.6 billion) from $720 billion in 2013.

During Xi Jinping’s administration, annual percentage growth has consistently exceeded the GDP growth target. For example, for this year, the target GDP growth is 5%, and the budget allocated for defense increases by 7.2%.

Its neighbors and the United States closely monitor Beijing’s budget for its armed forces because of concerns about China’s strategic intentions and the development of its military power.

According to data from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), China has increased its military budget for the 30th year in a row.

The Chinese government ordered a “purge” in the armed forces

But James Char, another security expert at RSIS, points out that while China has grown its military spending faster than the economy, overall it has remained at 1.3 percent of GDP over the past decade, avoiding pressure on Beijing’s coffers.

“Of course, the long-term fate of the Chinese economy will determine whether this can be sustained going forward,” he says.

A report published last month by the IISS also noted that the purchase of new equipment is likely to be the largest expenditure in the military budget, as Xi Jinping has said it must be “fully modernized” by 2035.

According to the IISS, these efforts are ongoing on several fronts, with China developing a wide range of weapons, from warships and submarines to drones and advanced missiles that can be armed with both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Beijing’s Central Military Commission, the body responsible for military procurement and other matters related to the armed forces, last July ordered a “purge” of tenders and urged the public to report “violations”.

The commission has yet to announce the results of its investigation, but at least 9 generals, including 4 directly responsible for military procurement, have been without seats in parliament, a necessary procedure before they can be sent to court.

Two former defense ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, have disappeared without explanation, which in China usually means they are under investigation.