China has increased its defense budget despite economic difficulties due to Covid-19, possibly due to insecurity with the United States and the need to modernize the military.

China's National Assembly on May 22 announced a defense budget of about US $ 178.16 billion in 2020, an increase of 6.6% compared to last year, while budgets for other fields were significantly cut due to the image.

The commitment to increase budget for the military takes place in the context of China facing two major challenges, namely domestic economic difficulties and enormous political and military pressures from the outside.

The Chinese economy is in the worst recession due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the US military is stepping up its activities to challenge China's unjustified sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.

The defense budget increase of 6.6% is the lowest in 10 years.

"The 2020 defense budget shows that Beijing feels insecure and besieged," said Timothy Health, a research expert at RAND Research Institute in the US.

Significant increase in defense budgets while cutting spending in other areas shows China is increasingly worried about escalating tensions with the US, while hopes of unifying Taiwan by peaceful means are increasingly remote.

Speaking on the sidelines of a parliamentary session earlier this week, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Ngo Khiem acknowledged that overseas interests and domestic security were at stake.

Military expert Li Jie in Beijing said that China's defense needs are also increasing due to the threat of Western countries.

China also needs to develop, procure more modern weapons and equipment, raise salaries and welfare for its soldiers.

Despite its advances in military technology, China still uses many obsolete weapons such as Type 59 tanks and J-7 fighters, which need to be replaced with more modern weapons.

Budget and increase in military spending of China in the period of 2011-2020.

Song Zhongping, a Shanghai-based military expert, said China needs to be prepared for the worst post-pandemic situations, especially when the regional and international situation can continue to deteriorate and cause disadvantage for Beijing.

"Increasing investment in national defense will ensure the environment for a stable economic development, as well as additional funding for military research and development, boosting domestic demand during the affected export period.

Non-combat forces of the Chinese military also need additional operating funds in the context of Covid-19 still not controlled.

Experts say China has a lot of reasons to increase its defense budget, but question how Beijing allocates the money.

"Beijing wants to deliver a strong message that strengthening the military is still a priority even when the economy is in trouble. China will continue to focus on modernizing its army to at least gain power on par with.