Q&A · 2:31:33-2:31:56

Taiwan's defenses can continually justify Chinese spending

Beijing can defend higher military budgets without using them immediately by pointing to every new Taiwanese defensive investment.

Question

How long can Beijing justify increasing military spending without using it against Taiwan?

Short answer

Indefinitely, because every Taiwanese defensive investment can be cited as the reason China needs another capability.

Notes

Chinese leaders could keep justifying higher military spending by pointing to new Taiwanese defensive investments. Each improvement could be cited as the reason another Chinese capability was needed. In this argument, that justification can continue indefinitely without requiring an invasion.