Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Trying To Figure Out China's Defense Budget

China Boosts 2013 Defense Spending 10.7%. © AFP 2013/ Ed Jones

Unveiling China’s Defense Budget -- Kevin Baron, the E-Ring/Foreign Policy

China's defense spending is often the cause of heartburn and confusion in Washington, but top analysts argued Monday that the U.S. should spend more time examining the People’s Liberation Army’s rate of growth, its strong commitment to military modernization, and its mixed message to foreign powers about its intentions.

China is spending more on high-tech, yet unproven systems, such as stealth fighers, in an effort to keep up with the Pentagon. But that ambition is eating at its wider budget, said James Mulvenon, director of Defense Group, Inc.’s Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis. Additionally, he said, the cost for PLA personnel has risen from about one-third of its budget to roughly one-half, in an effort to increase the quality of the Chinese force.

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My Comment: The past few years has taught me one thing when it comes to covering China's military and it's defense budget .... the Chinese say one thing, and then they do something else.

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