Increased defense spending in China aims to address ‘complex security issues’

China’s annual increase in military spending was “appropriate and prudent” and aimed at addressing “difficult security issues,” a spokesman for the National People’s Congress, whose annual session begins on Sunday, said Saturday.

Wang Chao did not specify whether the defense budget, which will be announced at the beginning of the plenary session, will be more or less than last year’s 7.1% increase.

He only said that military spending would remain “stable” as a share of GDP (gross domestic product) and that China’s military modernization “poses no threat to any country.”

“On the contrary, it will only be a positive force to protect regional stability and world peace,” Wang said at a press conference.

“Increased defense spending is necessary to address complex security issues and for China to fulfill its responsibilities as a great nation,” he said. “China’s defense spending … is below the world average, and increasing it is appropriate and reasonable.”

China spent 1.7% of GDP on its military in 2021, according to the World Bank. In comparison, the US, which supports various alliance systems abroad, spent 3.5%.

The Asian nation spent a total of 1.45 billion yuan (215 billion euros) on defense last year, nearly double the amount in 2013. abilities in all categories.

In addition to having the largest standing army in the world, China has the largest navy in the world and recently launched its third aircraft carrier. The Asian country has a huge stockpile of missiles, fighter jets, warships capable of launching nuclear weapons, modern surface ships and nuclear submarines.

China has already established a military base in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, and is upgrading a naval base in Ream, Cambodia, which could give it at least a semi-permanent presence in the Gulf of Thailand, which faces the disputed South Sea. from China.

The modernization effort has raised concerns among the United States and its allies, who fear a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Beijing claims the territory, which functions as a sovereign political entity, as its own province, which, if necessary, must be forcibly reunited.

This led to the sale of several weapons to the island, including ground systems, air defense missiles and F-16 fighter jets. The island recently extended its mandatory military service from four months to one year and is resurrecting its own defense industry for the first time, including the construction of submarines.

While China’s defense spending is no longer rising at double-digit annual interest rates as it has been in the past, defense spending remains relatively high despite rising public debt and economic growth that was last year’s second-lowest in four decades. .

Observers say the budget has left out much of China’s spending on armaments, most of which is now produced domestically after years of large-scale imports from Russia.

China’s huge capabilities and Russia’s huge spending on artillery shells and other equipment in the war against Ukraine raise fears that Beijing may provide military assistance to Moscow.

In a written response to Lusa’s questions this week, the Chinese government denied any intention to supply arms to Russia.

“China will not make any military sales to belligerents or areas of conflict,” the Asian country’s foreign ministry said. He added that Beijing has “always taken a prudent and responsible attitude” towards the export of arms and military equipment.