China, 27 Aug (v7n)- China's significant investment in military exercises in the Western Pacific, particularly around Taiwan, underscores its strategic focus on the region amid rising tensions. A previously unpublished estimate from Taiwan's armed forces suggests that China spent about $15 billion in 2023 on these exercises, accounting for approximately 7% of its defense budget. This expenditure highlights China's ongoing military activity near Taiwan and in contested areas of the South China Sea and East China Sea.

The estimate, based on Taiwanese surveillance and intelligence, reveals that China's military undertook over 9,200 aircraft flights and 70,000 naval sailings in 2023, amounting to substantial time in the air and at sea. Notably, about 40% of these naval activities occurred in the South China Sea, with significant portions also in the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

This data provides a rare glimpse into China's defense spending, often considered opaque. The analysis was intended to help Taiwanese decision-makers understand China's resource allocation and to gauge the potential risks and capabilities related to a possible Taiwan invasion. The findings also shed light on China's broader military ambitions in the Western Pacific, where it seeks to strengthen its presence and readiness amidst growing tensions with the U.S. and its allies.