China spent $15 billion on military exercises in the Pacific in 2023, according to estimates.

The research by Taiwan’s military offers rare insight into Chinese defense spending. Beijing has increased its military presence in the region in line with rising tensions.

Reuters It has been researched.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has never ruled out the use of force to bring the democratically-ruled island under its control, despite strong resistance from Taiwan. In addition, China has territorial disputes with several countries over sovereignty over large parts of the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense did not comment on these figures.

– But the ministry adds that the massive military investment made by the Chinese Communist Party in recent years has undoubtedly had a negative impact on peace and stability in the region, which does not contribute to global prosperity and development.

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The Chinese Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

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targeted strategy

According to senior Taiwanese officials, who wished to remain anonymous, China’s use of resources reflects a targeted strategy to secure control over the area west of the so-called “first island chain.” This area includes strategically important waters from Indonesia to Japan, including the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry report was compiled in May based on surveillance and intelligence of Chinese military activity in the region. The analysis calculated the cost of fuel, maintenance and salaries for Chinese naval and air operations.

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This totaled 110 billion yuan – or 157 billion Norwegian kroner.

That’s about 85 percent of Taiwan’s 2023 defense budget and about seven percent of China’s reported 1.55 trillion yuan military spending. The figures give Taiwan insight into how China allocates its military resources and what that could mean for future threats in the region.

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China's Defense Ministry has not commented on the estimates, but a Taiwanese Defense Ministry spokesman said China's growing military investment threatens regional peace and stability.

More than 9200 flights

During 2023, Chinese military aircraft and drones conducted more than 9,200 flights in the region, while the Chinese Navy conducted more than 70,000 flights.

The report showed that about 40 percent of China's naval missions were conducted in the hotly contested South China Sea, about 20 percent in the East China Sea, which borders Japan and South Korea, and nearly 15 percent in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

Experts say the methods used in the Taiwanese report are plausible, but they stress that the numbers necessarily involve a degree of uncertainty. Still, the report offers valuable insight into China’s military strategy, which appears to be aimed at increasing readiness for a potential invasion of Taiwan.

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China has recently stepped up its military exercises near Taiwan, including a major one in May 2024, shortly after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office. During these exercises, known as “Joint Sword 2024A,” China is said to have spent more than NOK 138 million on fuel and consumables.

The estimated costs for the exercises do not include personnel and maintenance, which typically amount to about three times the cost of fuel and consumables, the Taiwanese sources told Reuters.

The increased activity shows that the Chinese military is preparing for potential conflicts in the region, according to Chih Chung, a researcher at the Taipei-based Strategic Foresight Society.

– He says more aircraft and pilots are now capable of carrying out such missions.