People’s Congress meets – China cancels “peaceful” takeover of Taiwan

China’s National People’s Congress met for its annual session in Beijing on Tuesday. Premier Li Qiang opened with his work report and presented the long-awaited economic growth target for this year. Just like last year, this was estimated at “about five percent”. On March 11, the nearly 3,000 members of the hand-picked parliament will approve the plans of the government of state and party leader Xi Jinping.

China also drops the term “peaceful,” referring to its desired reunification with Taiwan. Beijing will “resolutely advance the cause of Chinese reunification,” Premier Li’s first work report said. Previous reports had spoken of “peaceful reunification”. At the same time, according to the newspaper, defense spending is expected to increase by 7.2 percent in 2024, as in the previous year, and reach 1.67 trillion yuan (214.03 billion euros). Beijing had already increased its military budget by the same amount last year.

China has the largest army in the world
The decision to increase the budget is also likely related to tense relations with Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province, and disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea. Experts do not yet expect a war to break out in the strait between China and Taiwan. However, Beijing wants reunification with the island republic – if necessary by military means.

The People’s Republic has the largest military in the world, with an estimated two million active soldiers. China’s defense budget has grown faster than total spending in recent years. The increase was also largely above the economic growth rate.

The economy is weakening
The growth target is seen as ambitious by observers. Last year this was narrowly exceeded by 5.2 percent, but experts have serious doubts about the reliability of the Chinese statistics. In 2023, catch-up effects after the corona pandemic played into the government’s hands, which will no longer apply this year. China’s economy has recently suffered from weak global demand, a struggling real estate market and weak domestic consumption.

Other topics at the annual conference are likely to include the country’s opening up to investment and reform, as well as the “new productive forces” that Xi Jinping has often discussed prominently in public speeches of late – a term with which China aims to focus on China’s progress country through digital technologies and artificial intelligence.