Relations between China and Taiwan have gradually worsened since the election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. (Photo : Getty Images)
Taiwan's minister of defense announced recently that the government intends to use more modern weapons to prepare for a possible attack from China.
Minister Feng Shih-kuan said that the ministry wants to upgrade their F-16 jets and acquire submarines.
The Taiwanese military boss also said that the government intends to acquire surface-to-air and stealth aircraft from the U.S.
The proposed budget for military modernization will be $11.4 billion, which makes the budget higher by 3 percent compared to last year.
"We hope for an increase to 3 percent next year, but the government also needs to consider revenue and balance it among other ministries," he said.
The ongoing military exercises conducted by China in the South China Sea are considered a threat, according to the 2017 Quadrennial Defense Review. This report is released by the army every four years.
The report stated, "The recent activity of Chinese jets and ships around Taiwan shows the continued rise in China's military threat capabilities."
"In addition to posing a military threat to our country, it also has a negative impact on regional stability," the report added.
Meanwhile, China's military spending will be at $151 billion this year. This makes China second to the U.S. as the the biggest military spender in the world.
Liu Fu-Kuo, executive director of National Chengchi University's Taiwan Center for Security Studies, said that Taiwan should realize that the country is smaller than China and should just avoid conflict.
He said, "It would be difficult for Taiwan to compete with China's world-class military power."
"The wisest choice for Taiwan would be refraining from provocative measures and refraining from giving any excuses for China to take military actions," he added.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that it would be better for China to be unified.
He said, "We are one family."
