China's defence budget to go up by 14.9 percent

[sohailbutt]

BEIJING: China plans to increase its defence budget by 14.9 percent in 2009, a spokesman said here on Wednesday.

The planned defence budget is 480.686 billion yuan ($70 billion), a rise of 62.482 billion yuan from last year, Li Zhaoxing, spokesman for the second session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), told a press conference.

Defence spending accounts for 6.3 percent of the country's total fiscal expenditure in 2009, slightly down from the level of previous years, Li said.

The budget rise follows a 17.6 percent increase in 2008 compared with the previous year.

Li said the increased spending is mainly for better treatment of servicemen, adding that more money would be used to adjust the subsidies and salaries to lift their living standards.

The increased budget will also be spent on the purchase of equipment and construction of facilities to enhance the ability of the military force to defend the country in the age of information, Li said. The capacity of the armed forces for disaster relief and anti-terror operations shall also be enhanced. Spending on the reconstruction of military facilities damaged in the 8-magnitude earthquake that struck China's Sichuan province May 12 last year was also listed in this year's defence budget, he said.

Li described the defence budget growth as 'modest’, saying that China's defence expenditure was fairly low compared with other countries, considering the size of China's population and territory.

This year's draft national budget would be deliberated at the NPC annual session due to open in Beijing later Wednesday.

http://www.geo.tv/3-4-2009/36516.htm

 

[gpit]

China announces 14.9% rise in defense spending in 2009
Wednesday 04th March, 03:29 PM JST


BEIJING —
China said Wednesday it will increase its military budget in 2009 by 14.9% from the year before, marking the 21st straight year of double-digit growth in its defense spending. Li Zhaoxing, a spokesman for China’s National People’s Congress, or parliament, told a press conference the government will submit to the congress a plan to spend $480.69 billion yuan (about $70.2 billion) on its military this year.

The continued expansion in China’s military spending has alarmed some countries. Critics say China’s real defense budget is two to three times more than the announced figure, given its exclusion of items such as research and development fees. But Li defended the spending for 2009, saying it is mainly meant to raise the living standards of the country’s soldiers. ‘‘The increased defense spending in 2009 will mainly be used for raising the living standards and improving conditions for soldiers,’’ Li said.


China announces 14.9% rise in defense spending in 2009 Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

 

[metalfalcon]

ARMS RACE IS ON IN SOUTH ASIA.

First India Now China.

 

[sohailbutt]

ARMS RACE IS ON IN SOUTH ASIA.

First India Now China.

metalfalcon, sir China's defence budget hike is very much defensive in nature, looking at the massive jumps in Indian budget (acquiring naval ships, submarines, fighter aircrafts, AWACS aircraft, missile defence systems, attack heli's etc the list goes on), this spoils the whole power balance in South east Asia.

Of course, sir China being a strong Nation can counter these hike's in Indian defence budget, but the biggest threat is to Pakistan and Bangladesh, we only have the minimum deterrence policy, so we buy hardware which could be used to counter Indian might, but according to my thinking it is high time our Government should rethink it's minimum deterrence policy and include WOT in it as well (WOT will require a lot of military hardware, heli's, advance weapons, drones that can attack not just carry out the normal surveillance, like US predator and much more).

I think Pakistan should make a new force equivalent to that of American SWAT who can counter these heavily armed terrorists, which attack inside Pakistan very frequently, with proper advance weapons and which includes air support using heli's.

 

[aimarraul]

This is where the money goes,they deserve it

 

[Bane Blade]

They have excellent planners to grow their defence budget in a recession.

 

[wangrong]

 

[metalfalcon]

metalfalcon, sir China's defence budget hike is very much defensive in nature, looking at the massive jumps in Indian budget (acquiring naval ships, submarines, fighter aircrafts, AWACS aircraft, missile defence systems, attack heli's etc the list goes on), this spoils the whole power balance in South east Asia.

Yes my Dear Brother you right, China has a right to Improve her defences in the Light of huge Military Hardware procurements of India. I just said about Arms race and this phenomenon is true in our region.

Of course, sir China being a strong Nation can counter these hike's in Indian defence budget, but the biggest threat is to Pakistan and Bangladesh, we only have the minimum deterrence policy, so we buy hardware which could be used to counter Indian might, but according to my thinking it is high time our Government should rethink it's minimum deterrence policy and include WOT in it as well (WOT will require a lot of military hardware, heli's, advance weapons, drones that can attack not just carry out the normal surveillance, like US predator and much more).

Don't have much expectations from our Current Govt. But our Strategy planners are well aware of this fact and are making suitable preparations for the Future of Pakistan and Pakistan Military. Just Today F-22p Frigate Building Complex was inaugurated in Karachi.

I think Pakistan should make a new force equivalent to that of American SWAT who can counter these heavily armed terrorists, which attack inside Pakistan very frequently, with proper advance weapons and which includes air support using heli's.

Pakistan is making efforts in this sector and American SWAT has been training Pakistani Commandos and they are meant to counter terrorists. But still more has to be done.