Taiwan's military sector expressed concern over the growth in the mainland's defence spending, saying it would increase the cross-strait imbalance.
'The [14.9] per cent budget growth is relatively large in the face of a global downturn that has also affected the mainland,' Taiwan's Defence Ministry said.
It said the international community had been concerned about the growth of the mainland's military spending in the past 19 years.
'We feel it would serve only to further expand the military imbalance between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait,' it said.
Taiwan's military has proposed an annual budget of NT$315.2 billion (HK$69.75 billion), NT$10.4 billion less than that of last year, due mainly to plans to cut troops amid warming cross-strait relations.
The pro-independence camp in Taiwan said the growth was evidence of a two-pronged tactic of the mainland. It also criticised the defence policy of President Ma Ying-jeou.
