In a significant shift, China has announced a 7.2% increase in its defence spending for the year, marking a continuation of the military budget expansion that has more than doubled during President Xi Jinping's 11-year tenure. This increase comes as Beijing adopts a firmer approach towards Taiwan, a move highlighted in the latest government work report. Notably, the report calls for 'reunification' with Taiwan but conspicuously omits the term 'peaceful,' a departure from previous language. This alteration, not the first of its kind but significant in the current geopolitical context, signals a potentially more assertive posture by China towards Taiwan, sparking close observation and concern internationally. Palki Sharma brings you a report on Vantage.
