BEIJING — China has said that tensions with Taiwan and bullying by major powers — an apparent reference to the United States — are forcing it to beef up its armed forces.
In a lengthy policy paper Monday, China responded to foreign concerns about its growing military might and reiterated its threat to use force against Taiwan if it seeks independence.
It also insisted that its defense expenditure remained low compared to other countries and said its military modernization is "purely for self-defense."
But the paper, issued by the information office of the State Council, China's Cabinet, also said the situation with Taiwan — which Beijing regards as a renegade province — "is complicated and grim."
China will "adopt all drastic measures possible, including the use of force," if Taiwan splits from China in any form, if foreign forces invade the island, or if Taiwan's government refuses indefinitely to discuss reunification with Beijing, the paper said.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry responded by saying that the Taiwanese military has "an effective system of deterrence" against Chinese threats and was capable of defending the island from "whatever mainland Chinese military invasion."
Although Taiwan has ruled itself separately since the two sides split amid a civil war that ended 51 years ago, Beijing still wants the island to accept it is part of China — a demand the rival government in Taipei has rebuffed.
The policy paper said that because the foundation for a peaceful reunification of China and Taiwan "is seriously imperiled" and because of "hegemonism and power politics" — Beijing's code words for U.S. domination — China was being forced to arm.
"China will have to enhance its capability to defend its sovereignty and security by military means," it said.
China is shaping its military into a leaner, more technologically advanced force, in part by purchasing sophisticated, Russian-made weapons. During a military demonstration last week by 10,000 soldiers — the biggest display of Chinese weapons and military skills since 1964 — President Jiang Zemin called for higher-tech and more realistic training.
The policy paper confirmed that the People's Liberation Army — still the world's largest force — has been trimmed to under 2.5 million troops, following a reduction of 500,000 soldiers over the past three years.
It also claimed that defense spending this year amounted to $14.6 billion, which it said was 5 percent of Washington's spending, and 30 percent of Japan's.
Western analysts believe China's actual defense spending is possibly three times higher than the official figures.
Also Monday, state media reported China is having trouble raising incomes among already hard-pressed farmers by the 4 percent target set by the government this year.
The admission, in a policy paper released by the Ministry of Agriculture, shows the difficulties China faces in easing simmering discontent in the countryside. Government researchers say many farmers have seen incomes fall or stagnate for more than a decade, unlike prosperous urbanites.