"China announced a further sharp increase in military spending on Tuesday, a day after the United States renewed its warning that a lack of openness surrounding the rapid buildup of China’s armed forces posed a threat to stability in Asia."

"China’s military budget for 2008 will increase by 17.6 percent to 417.8 billion yuan, or about $58.8 billion, Jiang Enzhu, spokesman for the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature, said at a news conference. This follows a 17.8 percent increase in 2007. Military experts in the United States and elsewhere say Beijing’s real military spending is at least double the announced figure. …"

"Before the annual legislative session, which begins Wednesday, Mr. Jiang also said the situation in the Taiwan Strait was ‘grim and complex,’ and called on the Taiwanese president, Chen Shui-bian, to halt what Beijing described as unacceptable moves toward independence. China considers the island of Taiwan a breakaway province."

"China has increased annual defense outlays by double-digit percentages most years in the past two decades to pay for an array of modern weapons and better training and conditions for the 2.3 million people in its military, the world’s biggest standing force." …

"China’s main objective is to develop the firepower to overwhelm Taiwan in the event of a conflict while deterring or delaying any American forces sent to help defend the island."

From Beijing, David Lague, The New York Times, 3/5/08, p. A6