Soldiers march at a People's Liberation Army (PLA) base in Hong Kong as part of events marking the 20th anniversary of the city's handover from British to Chinese rule, June 30, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo
Reuters: Taiwan concerns mean China defense budget likely to defy slowing economy
BEIJING (Reuters) - A slowing economy is unlikely to crimp China’s 2019 defense budget rise, as Beijing earmarks more spending for modernization and big-ticket items like stealth jets, and focuses on Taiwan after a stern new year’s speech from President Xi Jinping.
The defense spending figure is closely watched worldwide for clues to China’s strategic intentions as it develops new military capabilities, including aircraft carriers and anti-satellite missiles.
In 2018, China unveiled its largest defense spending increase in three years, setting an 8.1 percent growth target for the year, fuelling an ambitious military upgrade program and making its neighbors nervous.
The 2019 number should be revealed at the March 5 opening of the annual session of China’s largely rubber-stamp parliament, although in 2017 it was initially not announced, prompting renewed concerns about transparency.
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WNU Editor: I am one of those who believe that China's defense budget is far bigger than what they are announcing. And what they want in the next decade is truly eye-opening .... 4 - 6 aircraft carrier strike groups, 6th generation fighters, strategic bombers, AI platforms, bases on man-made islands, and an arsenal of missiles far more than what they need for their defense.
So too are China's ICBM counts. Way higher than "experts" keep telling us.
ReplyDeleteChina means to be a global power able to project power globally and to dominate the USA. Europe is addicted to Chinese money and can be bought off from the USA. Same goes for South America. The recent Munich conference clearly showed the eagerness of Europe to be bought off with Chinese money.
I think we'll see an economic collapse in China very soon
ReplyDeleteContracting markets by 30% for months already. Housing bubble in the trillions. Aging population. Overreported GDP. And every single company in my industry has or is about to leave China and produce in Thailand or Cambodia or even Vietnam. All better places.
There's a reason that Anonymous is anonymous. Everything he said is all nonsense. The reality is that China spends no more than 2 percent of its GDP on its military (for the US that figure is around 3.5 percent and we've spread our military all over the world) and the Chinese know they can't have good economic relations with the rest of the world if they seek to dominate it. In fact, unlike the British-inspired geopolitical foriegn policy outlook of the US, domination is not part of their ideology.
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ReplyDeleteDomination may not be part of their ideology but there lies a butcher's thumb I don't want to see near the scale weighing out my rib-eye.
Like Russia, China will use every lie, every obfuscation to dominate, control and manipulate the laws, treaties and general world order of peaceful nations. Not to be trusted on any level!
ReplyDeleteCarl said ...
ReplyDeleteHe forgets about Djbouti and other places. Maybe Carl doe snot know how to count. He knows how to criticize.