China announced that it will increase the country’s defense budget by 7.2 percent.
China has set an economic growth target of around five percent for 2023, the country’s government said in its opening report at the start of the session of the People’s Congress. The figure is one of the lowest in decades.
Last year, China’s economy grew by only three percent, even though the goal was to grow the economy by 5.5 percent.
China also announced that it will increase the country’s defense budget by 7.2 percent. Last year, China increased its defense budget by 7.1 percent.
In addition, the outgoing Prime Minister Li Keqiang said that China aims to create around 12 million jobs in cities this year.
General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi Jinping continues for his third presidential term. His favorite Li Qiang’s is expected to become prime minister.
China stopped following its zero-tolerance corona policy in December after large-scale protests had been organized in the country.
China has increased military activity near Taiwan
According to the outgoing premier, the Chinese government should promote peaceful relations with Taiwan, but also take decisive action to oppose Taiwan’s independence.
– Since we Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are a blood-bound family, we should promote economic and cultural cooperation across the strait and develop systems and methods of operation that promote the well-being of our Taiwanese compatriots, the Prime Minister said in his report.
China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased military activity near Taiwan over the past three years.
According to AFP, the majority of Taiwanese are not interested in being under Chinese rule. According to the Taiwanese government, the island’s 23 million inhabitants can decide their own future.
Sources: Reuters, AFP, STT