BEIJING: China plans to significantly increase its defence budget again, unveiling a proposal at the opening of the National People's Congress on Thursday (Mar 5) that would raise military spending by seven per cent to around 1.9 trillion yuan (US$275 billion).
Last year, the defence budget grew by 7.2 per cent.
China has the world's second-largest defence budget after the United States. President Xi Jinping has pushed for a comprehensive modernisation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) since taking office in 2013, aiming to build a "world-class military" by 2049.
The budget increase comes amid persistent regional tensions, particularly around Taiwan. The island, which has been democratically governed for decades, is claimed by Beijing as its own territory. Xi has repeatedly signalled that reunification will not be indefinitely postponed and could involve force.
China has recently intensified military pressure on Taiwan through large-scale naval and air exercises.
Alongside modernisation, the Chinese leadership is pursuing a sweeping shake-up within the military. In recent years, many senior generals have been dismissed or investigated in what analysts call one of the biggest purges of the PLA in decades.
The campaign has recently intensified, with several military representatives removed from the legislature ahead of the Congress.
The measures extend to the top of the armed forces, including officers linked to the Central Military Commission, the PLA's top decision-making body chaired by Xi, which oversees military strategy and operations.
Experts say the actions aim to combat corruption and ensure the political loyalty of the military, while removing structures seen as obstacles to modernisation. - dpa
