MAC alarmed by China's increased military spending

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday expressed alarm over China's military budget increase of 17.8 percent.

"The figure marks China's rising threat to Taiwan," said MAC Vice Chairman Johnnason Liu (劉德勳), referring to Beijing's pledge to invade the nation should it declare formal independence.

In a wide-ranging interview with CNN in January, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) accused China of provoking his government by targeting the nation with nearly 1,000 missiles.

In reaction to China's continued missile build-up, Taiwan has deployed three US-made Patriot anti-missile batteries to defend Taipei, and is seeking to purchase more to shield the entire country.

China's arms build-up "would also influence regional peace," Liu said.

Furthermore, Liu warned, "China's real military expenditure is believed to be much higher."

National People's Congress spokesman Jiang Enzhu (姜恩柱) said military expenditure would account for 7.5 percent of total government expenditure this year, compared with 7.4 percent last year.

Taiwan will in turn increase military spending from 2.32 percent of GDP in 2005 to 2.85 percent this year.