China's defence
China Daily (Beijing)
The Hamilton Spectator
(Mar 19, 2007)
At the Fifth Session of the 10th National People's Congress, it was announced that China's military budget for 2007 is 350.92 billion yuan, or roughly $44.94 billion (all figures US.) This marks a 17.8 per cent increase over the previous year, or $6.8 billion.
The increase has drawn wide attention from the international community. Many express misgivings out of sheer misunderstanding. But some look at the increase through stained lenses or stretch the matter to suit their own ends. Others try to use the growth in China's military spending to create a propaganda splash.
First: Why the increase by the unprecedented margin of 17.8 per cent?
The growth is primarily caused by the sharp increase in the wages (100 per cent raises for large numbers of officers and non-commissioned officers), living expenses and pensions of 2.3 million People's Liberation Army officers, civilian personnel, soldiers and army retirees.
Of course, spending on hardware, research and development, and weapons procurement has also increased. And the money spent on training, exercises and on military activities has risen, too. But this kind of spending growth pales beside the increase in personnel expenditures.
There is another question: Does China's military expenditure outstrip its actual needs now that the 2007 Chinese military budget has surpassed Japan's $42 billion? It is a fraction of the $532.8 billion in the United States.
China's military spending falls far behind that of many other countries, whether in terms of actual amount, military personnel per capita expenditure or the general population per capita military spending.
China is a big country. The military is, therefore, obligated with overwhelmingly heavy tasks in defending the country. To compound this, the country is threatened by separatism, terrorism and hegemonism. In view of all this, China's sizable military spending is totally justified.
The U.S. military's per capita budget in 2007, for instance, is $383,000, the highest in the world. Next comes Britain ($324,000), followed by Japan ($175,000), Germany ($148,000) and France ($146,000).
In contrast, China's per capita spending on its soldiers is only $19,540.
Does China's military expenditure outstrip its actual defence needs? Facts constitute the best gauge. Western military analysts are very clear that Chinese fleets, air force, ground troops and strategic rocket forces are on a secondary tier with the world's leading military powers.
It is impossible for China to enter an arms race with the world's military powers. Most important of all, China's state strategy and military strategy are geared to peaceful development and active defence.
The ultimate goal is to build a harmonious society inside the country and a world in harmony outside. So the country needs no military expansion or a strategy designed for military interference overseas. China has no military bases overseas and the country has never launched pre-emptive attacks against others.
By all measures, Chinese military expenditure is still very humble.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NA...2&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1112188062581
China Daily (Beijing)
The Hamilton Spectator
(Mar 19, 2007)
At the Fifth Session of the 10th National People's Congress, it was announced that China's military budget for 2007 is 350.92 billion yuan, or roughly $44.94 billion (all figures US.) This marks a 17.8 per cent increase over the previous year, or $6.8 billion.
The increase has drawn wide attention from the international community. Many express misgivings out of sheer misunderstanding. But some look at the increase through stained lenses or stretch the matter to suit their own ends. Others try to use the growth in China's military spending to create a propaganda splash.
First: Why the increase by the unprecedented margin of 17.8 per cent?
The growth is primarily caused by the sharp increase in the wages (100 per cent raises for large numbers of officers and non-commissioned officers), living expenses and pensions of 2.3 million People's Liberation Army officers, civilian personnel, soldiers and army retirees.
Of course, spending on hardware, research and development, and weapons procurement has also increased. And the money spent on training, exercises and on military activities has risen, too. But this kind of spending growth pales beside the increase in personnel expenditures.
There is another question: Does China's military expenditure outstrip its actual needs now that the 2007 Chinese military budget has surpassed Japan's $42 billion? It is a fraction of the $532.8 billion in the United States.
China's military spending falls far behind that of many other countries, whether in terms of actual amount, military personnel per capita expenditure or the general population per capita military spending.
China is a big country. The military is, therefore, obligated with overwhelmingly heavy tasks in defending the country. To compound this, the country is threatened by separatism, terrorism and hegemonism. In view of all this, China's sizable military spending is totally justified.
The U.S. military's per capita budget in 2007, for instance, is $383,000, the highest in the world. Next comes Britain ($324,000), followed by Japan ($175,000), Germany ($148,000) and France ($146,000).
In contrast, China's per capita spending on its soldiers is only $19,540.
Does China's military expenditure outstrip its actual defence needs? Facts constitute the best gauge. Western military analysts are very clear that Chinese fleets, air force, ground troops and strategic rocket forces are on a secondary tier with the world's leading military powers.
It is impossible for China to enter an arms race with the world's military powers. Most important of all, China's state strategy and military strategy are geared to peaceful development and active defence.
The ultimate goal is to build a harmonious society inside the country and a world in harmony outside. So the country needs no military expansion or a strategy designed for military interference overseas. China has no military bases overseas and the country has never launched pre-emptive attacks against others.
By all measures, Chinese military expenditure is still very humble.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NA...2&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1112188062581
