TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China will advance unification with Taiwan and boost defense spending by 7.2% this year, Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強) announced during the National People's Congress on Wednesday.
“We will firmly advance the cause of China's reunification," Li said in a report delivered to China’s annual major political event, per Reuters. He added that Beijing wants to work with “fellow Chinese” in Taiwan to advance unification, which was not included in last year's report.
In Li’s 2024 report, China adopted tougher language against Taiwan by dropping the words "peaceful reunification." He also emphasized China’s intent to “firmly advance” its unification goal in the coming years.
One senior Taiwan official said Beijing's tone on Taiwan has not shifted in major ways, showing it may prioritize the economy and US relations. However, he said Beijing’s appeal to “fellow Chinese” in Taiwan could be a sign of its attempts to influence the Taiwanese through cultural and religious exchanges.
Li also announced that China will boost defense spending by 7.2% this year. This figure reflects the same increase as last year, and it is above China's 5% economic growth target this year.
Analysts said the figures demonstrate Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s (習近平) 2035 military modernization goals. According to official reports, China’s military is developing new missiles, submarines, ships, and surveillance tools while practicing combat readiness drills.
In addition, Li pointed to geopolitical shifts, saying, “An increasingly complex and severe external environment may exert a greater impact on China in areas such as trade, science, and technology." Under US President Donald Trump, tariffs on Chinese goods have been raised to 20% across the board, which took effect Tuesday, along with 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports.
Li said China would commit more fiscal resources to mitigate the impact of US tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Beijing also announced retaliatory measures on Tuesday, imposing additional tariffs of up to 15% on US farm imports and restricting exports to 15 US companies.
The premier also acknowledged China’s domestic challenges, such as "sluggish consumption" and household demand, as well as "pressures on job creation and income growth."
