China Increases Military Spending By 11.2%

Delegates attend the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last night. Photograph: Nelson Ching/Bloomberg

China's Defence Spending To Rise 11.2% -- CNN

(Financial Times) -- China plans to boost its official defence budget by 11.2 per cent this year as Beijing is balancing the modernisation of its armed forces against the need to keep military spending in line with economic development.

Defence expenditure is budgeted to rise to Rmb670.247bn ($110bn) in 2012, Li Zhaoxing, spokesman of the National People's Congress, told reporters a day before China's rubber stamp parliament opens to hear premier Wen Jiabao's budget report.

The rate of increase is slightly lower than last year's 12.7 per cent but in line with the growth trajectory over the past two decades. China has reported double-digit increases in official military spending for each year since 1989 except for 2009, when the announced growth rate dropped to 7.5 per cent.

Beijing says it is committed to keeping military spending in line with the overall pace of economic development.

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More News On China's Defense Budget

Chinese Military Spending Will Rise 11% in 2012 -- Bloomberg Businessweek
China military spending to top $100 billion this year -- Washington Post
Chinese military spending increases by 11.2% in latest budget -- The Guardian
China Boosts 2012 Military Spending -- Voice of America
China military budget tops $100bn -- BBC
China lifts military spending to $100b -- Sydney Morning Herald
China boosts defense budget 11 percent after U.S. "pivot" -- Reuters
China plans to boost defense spending by 11.2 percent in 2012 -- FOX News/AP
China military budget tops €80bn -- Irish Times
China boosts military spending -- Al Jazeera
Chinese defence spending rise to sound alarm bells in region -- The Australian
China's defence spending to exceed $100 billion -- The Hindu
China boosts military spending 11.2 percent, stoking concern -- Global Post

My Comment: With huge increases in military spending now occurring every year, it makes you wonder if China is preparing to wage war against someone. As to the official response from China to international concerns on increases in their military defense budget .... they say .... "get use to it".