China will increase its military budget to 1.35 trillion yuan (about $207.8 billion) in 2021, which is 6.8 percent higher than 2020, Chinese state-run media reported on Mar. 6. One expert told The Epoch Times that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s top priority is to strengthen its military.
During the ruling party’s most important annual meeting, known as the “two sessions,” on Mar. 5, Premier Li Keqiang said, “[We should] comprehensively strengthen the military exercises and fully prepare for war.”
“Building a strong military is one of [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping’s top tasks. His slogan is building a ‘strong China,’” U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan told The Epoch Times on Mar. 7. “I think Xi will take aggressive actions after he can take another tenure [in 2022].”
Military Budget
Chinese state-run Xinhua operated newspaper Cankao Xiaoxi reported on China’s military budget on Mar. 6.
The report didn’t quote any official number, but claimed the data was from two overseas media. This is a typical way the Chinese regime releases information that it might change in the future or doesn’t want to officially announce.
The report said China would spend 1.35 trillion yuan (about $207.8 billion) in military in 2021, which is 6.8 percent higher than the budget in 2020.