Beijing has dismissed Taiwan's proposed record defense budget for 2027 as a waste, striking back after Taipei outlined plans to raise military spending to 1.12 trillion Taiwan dollars.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of clinging obstinately to a separatist stance of independence since taking power in 2016. The government has made military modernization a key political platform, committing to increased spending that includes domestically built submarines.
The proposed budget, equivalent to more than 3% of the island's GDP, follows a 12.3% rise from 2026. Taiwan's parliament this month approved the general 2026 budget after a record 266-day delay, including a drone development program. The United States has urged Taipei to increase defense spending.