The Chinese mainland slammed the Taiwan authorities on Wednesday for raising defense spending to a record high, with the proposed budget expected to exceed 30 billion US dollars for the first time.

"The Lai Ching-te administration keeps stirring up confrontation across the Taiwan Strait and squandering the people’s hard-earned money," said Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The spokesperson also urged people in Taiwan to oppose such moves and safeguard peace, security and well-being across the Strait.