China eyes stronger military against threats

BEIJING (Reuters) - China needs stronger military forces as it faces growing instability and threats to national security, the ruling Communist Party's ideological mouthpiece said according to reports in the state media on Wednesday.

An essay in the latest issue of Qiushi, or Seek Truth, says China must strengthen its military to guard a peaceful international setting for economic growth, the official China News Service reported.

"Destabilizing and uncertain factors are increasing and having a major impact on China's security environment," the essay said.

"History demonstrates that one cannot rely on others granting peace, and only building a strong military and firm national defense can provide a reliable security barrier," it added.


Qiushi magazine is the Communist Party's ideological mouthpiece and often carries essays by senior officials and theorists. The latest essay appears to reflect unease about China's military preparedness, even with rapidly rising defense spending over the past decade.

The essay did not specify the threats calling for stronger defense, but it said that Western foes did not want to see a strong China.

"Hostile Western forces do not want to see a strong socialist China emerge in the east, and they are constantly cooking up vain attempts to hold in check and contain China's development."

Supporters of independence for Taiwan -- the self-governed island that China has claimed as its own since their split in 1949 amid civil war -- are also a "major peril", it added.

China has experienced deepening friction with Japan over Tokyo's treatment of its World War Two invasion and its increasingly assertive foreign policy.

Beijing's relations with Washington are strained by mutual mistrust, even as the two countries seek to cooperate over curtailing North Korea's nuclear weapons program and defusing other regional disputes.

"At present, the political and military environment on China's periphery is quite complex, and unpredictable factors are clearly rising," the essay said.

China's 2.3-million-strong People's Liberation Army is the world's largest standing force and Beijing has said its defense budget will rise 14.7 percent to 283.8 billion yuan ($35.5 billion) in 2006.

That is much smaller than United States' $419.3 billion defense budget for 2006, but many in Washington say China's real defense spending is higher than its official figure.

Omg. Seriously, so what has China been doing recently with double-digit percentage increases in defence spending? Is this arguing for 20+% funding increases? To be honest I would be surprised, and in a way disappointed, if the PRC massively stepped up its spending even more (given more pressing internal problems).

Then again I'm sure the contributors to this magazine don't see anything wrong with China as it is, given they've got their freshly-squeezed orange juice every morning.

FuManChu said:

Omg. Seriously, so what has China been doing recently with double-digit percentage increases in defence spending? Is this arguing for 20+% funding increases? To be honest I would be surprised, and in a way disappointed, if the PRC massively stepped up its spending even more (given more pressing internal problems).

Then again I'm sure the contributors to this magazine don't see anything wrong with China as it is, given they've got their freshly-squeezed orange juice every morning.

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I am not sure where the previous years funding went, but this year, they probably spent a huge portion of funding on salary. If you have followed the recent news from Chinese forum, starting from July 1st, 2006, there is a huge increase on PLA's salary. This increase covers all military branch and all members of PLA. The PLA official statement says they want to increase the salary in PLA to be comparable to what civilian get paid if work for government. Consider that PLA was paid poorly in the past, this should be a huge boost to the morale of soliders.

FuManChu said:

Omg. Seriously, so what has China been doing recently with double-digit percentage increases in defence spending? Is this arguing for 20+% funding increases? To be honest I would be surprised, and in a way disappointed, if the PRC massively stepped up its spending even more (given more pressing internal problems).

Then again I'm sure the contributors to this magazine don't see anything wrong with China as it is, given they've got their freshly-squeezed orange juice every morning.

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Actually, the increase in military budget is less than the increase in the overall government spending. This is according to the Pentagon report, not me. So basically, China is actually spending less on military every year. And you have to remember that this increase is supported by a 9% annual growth (actually 10.9% for the first half of this year) + that 17% additional GDP discovered in 2004.

And as netspider mentionned, a huge part of the increase this year went to increasing PLA wages. Let's not forget about having to pay the pension to all the forces that it just cut (200,000 last year).

With all this money, the PLA should make an armoured division of solid gold tanks. :rofl: :roll:

tphuang said:

Actually, the increase in military budget is less than the increase in the overall government spending... So basically, China is actually spending less on military every year.

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No one HAS to spend money in exactly the same way. Besides, I would rather suggest that the current rate of expansion is sufficient.

And as netspider mentionned, a huge part of the increase this year went to increasing PLA wages. Let's not forget about having to pay the pension to all the forces that it just cut (200,000 last year).

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The current budget increases after this year - because I am sure military growth won't slow - will not always be put towards wages. Subsequently the extra money will available for other things. Then there's also the issue of the "official budget" not covering everything, with arms certain purchases being funded separately.

Plus it's cheaper to pay pensions than salaries, so the cuts in servicemen (& women) will be a net saving.

I think China is doing a good job of showing foreign countries that it does not bear any intention to interfere in their sovereignty. One by one, they are starting to find that a prosperous China is good for the region. A modern PLA only protects Asia's new-found prosperity.

Roger604 said:

I think China is doing a good job of showing foreign countries that it does not bear any intention to interfere in their sovereignty. One by one, they are starting to find that a prosperous China is good for the region. A modern PLA only protects Asia's new-found prosperity.

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All the more reason why I hope China is not wasting money on equipment of dubious effectiveness, high cost, and/or gives the impression of an offensive stance, i.e. aircraft carrier!