Japan’s Cabinet Secretary General, Hirokazu Matsuno, said that China’s plans to increase its defense budget and generally expand military activities in the region are of serious concern to the Japanese side and its allies. It has been reported TASS.
“China is consistently and rapidly increasing its defense spending and is actively increasing its military strength without the transparency of these actions. “Such actions by China are of great concern to our country and the entire international community,” Matsuno said.
He also criticized the actions of PRC officials in the South China and East China Seas, noting that Beijing’s military activity in the region is an unprecedented level of challenge. According to the Secretary-General, Japan needs to respond to this together with its allies.
Earlier, at the opening of the 1st session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) of the 14th meeting, the PRC’s 2023 budget draft was discussed, stating that China would go. to increase defense budget to 1.553 trillion yuan (about $224.85 billion).
Also, the Chinese authorities intend accelerate the modernization program of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army this year and strengthen the combat training of the troops.