China will increase military spending this year by 7.2%, slightly above the increase made last year, Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced Sunday at the opening of the annual session of the National People’s Congress (APN).
It is the eighth straight year of single-digit percentage increases in what is now the world’s second-biggest military budget.
The Asian country allocated a total of 1.45 billion yuan (215 billion euros) to Defense last year, almost double compared to 2013. Steady annual increases for two decades have allowed the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which has two million soldiers, to increase its capabilities in all categories.
In addition to having the world’s largest standing army, China has the world’s largest navy and recently launched its third aircraft carrier. The Asian country has a huge reserve of missiles, fighter jets, warships capable of delivering nuclear weapons, advanced surface ships and nuclear-powered submarines.
In the government work report, presented in the Great Hall of the People, next to Tiananmen Square, in Beijing, before the approximately three thousand NPC delegates, Li Keqiang highlighted the “absolute leadership” of the Party over the “Forces Armed of the people”.
“The People’s Armed Forces have intensified efforts to increase their political loyalty, strengthen themselves through reforms, scientific and technological advances, personnel training and the rule of law,” he said.
Li cited what he called “great achievements” in national defense and military development that made the PLA a “more modernized and capable fighting force.”
The Chinese premier cited the army’s contribution to border defense, maritime rights protection, anti-terrorism, stability maintenance, disaster rescue operations, commercial ship escort and enforcement of the ‘zero case’ Covid-19 policy, which included city closures, quarantines and others. coercive measures.
“We should consolidate and improve the integration of national strategies and strategic capabilities, and enhance the development of capabilities in science, technology, and national defense-related industries,” Li said.
This includes promoting “mutual support between the civil and military sectors,” he said. China spent 1.7% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on its Armed Forces in 2021, according to the World Bank. By comparison, the United States, which maintains different systems of alliances abroad, spent 3.5%.
While no longer growing at double-digit annual percentage rates as in the past, China’s defense spending remains relatively high, despite rising public debt and an economy that grew at a slower pace last year. in the last four decades.
Beijing says most of the increased spending is aimed at improving the welfare of troops, but the PLA has vastly expanded its presence abroad in recent years.
China has already established a military base in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, and is upgrading the Naval Base in Ream, Cambodia, which could give it at least a semi-permanent presence in the Gulf of Thailand, facing the disputed South Sea. from China.
The modernization effort has raised concerns among the United States and its allies, who fear that China will invade Taiwan. Beijing claims the territory, which functions as a sovereign political entity, as its own province, which must be forcibly reunified if necessary.
This led to several arms sales to the island, including ground systems, air defense missiles, and F-16 fighters. The island recently extended conscription to a year from four months and is reviving its own defense industries, including submarine building, for the first time.
On Taiwan, Li Keqiang said the government followed the “general policy of the Party [Comunista] to the new era” and pledged to “resolutely fight against separatism and interference [estrangeira]”.
Tensions have also risen with the US over the militarization of islands in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, and, more recently, the downing of an alleged Chinese spy balloon off the US east coast. .us
China’s huge industrial capacity and Russia’s huge spending on artillery shells and other materiel in its war against Ukraine have raised concerns that Beijing could provide military assistance to Moscow.
In a written response to questions from the Lusa news agency, the Chinese government denied this week that it intends to supply weapons to Russia.
“China will not carry out any military sales to belligerent parties or to areas in conflict,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Asian country. Beijing “has always had a prudent and responsible attitude” in the export of arms and military equipment, he added.
Source: TSF
