China Spent 7% of Its Defense Budget on Military Exercises in the Pacific Over a Year — Media.

China Spent $15 Billion on Military Exercises Around Taiwan

China spent around $15 billion, or 7% of its defense budget, on military exercises in the western Pacific Ocean in 2023, demonstrating Beijing's investment in military activity around Taiwan and its neighbors.

An internal study by Taiwan's armed forces, reviewed by Reuters, offers a rare glimpse into China's defense spending as Beijing increases its military presence amid rising tensions in the region.

"It reveals the logic of their resource allocation. They spend a massive amount of resources trying to gain control over the western part of the First Island Chain," a senior Taiwanese official said about the study, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The First Island Chain is a group of archipelagos stretching from Indonesia in an arc northeast to Japan, encompassing the South China and East China Seas.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense declined to comment on the figures and believes that China's large military investments negatively impact peace and stability in the region.

The study is meant to help Taiwanese leaders understand how China allocates military resources between regions: comparing the cost of exercises with the state of the Chinese economy helps Taipei assess risks.

According to Reuters' estimates, the amount of 110 billion yuan ($15.3 billion USD) is about 85% of Taiwan's defense budget for 2023. It is also about 7% of China's declared military spending for this year.

Both Washington and Beijing have significantly increased the number of military exercises in Asia amid rising tensions in recent years. China, in particular, has intensified military exercises near Taiwan.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never ruled out the possibility of using force to take control of the island. Beijing is also embroiled in disputes with several countries over control of large parts of the South China and East China Seas.

Source: ZN.UA