Premier softens tone towards Taiwan
China’s Premier Li Keqiang has called for the armed forces to boost their combat readiness at the same time as the Communist Party softens its rhetoric towards Taiwan.
Warning of the ‘‘high winds and choppy waters in the international environment’’, Li said the military should intensify training under combat conditions for the centenary of the People’s Liberation Army in 2027. That’s when US Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley has argued China could attempt to seize the democratic island.
But Li also took a more conciliatory tone towards Taiwan by calling for greater ‘‘economic and cultural exchanges and co-operation across the Taiwan Strait’’ and improving ‘‘the systems and policies that contribute to the wellbeing of our Taiwan compatriots’’.
In his last speech as Xi Jinping’s deputy, Li said ‘‘both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family bound by blood’’ but did not threaten to take Taiwan by force if necessary.
Li’s speech opened the Chinese government’s National People’s Congress yesterday. His comments were included in the annual Work Report which outlines the party’s priorities for the year ahead. Up to 3000 delegates have gathered in Beijing for the week-long legislative meeting which will take place mostly behind closed doors to decide the country’s policies.
The premier set an annual economic growth target of ‘‘about 5%’’ after the government failed to meet its mark of 5.5% in 2022 following widespread Covid19 lockdowns and some pockets of civil unrest. The benchmark was below market expectations, signalling the government is taking a cautious approach to reopening the economy after being hit by years of setbacks.
Li acknowledged the ‘‘difficulties, challenges, and great sacrifices’’ of the Chinese people throughout the pandemic – thousands piled onto the streets late last year to demand an end to lockdowns.
A 7.2% increase in its defence budget for the coming year, up slightly from last year’s 7.1% rate of increase, was also announced. That marks the eighth consecutive year of single-digit percentage point increases in what is now the world’s second-largest military budget. The 2023 figure was given as 1.55 trillion yuan (NZ$354 billion), roughly double the figure from 2013.
Li, 67, will be replaced by Xi’s former chief of staff Li Qiang this week after 10 years in the country’s second most important political office. –