Login
iscover
The People’s Republic of China has proposed a 7.2 per cent year-on-year increase to 1.67 trillion yuan (AU$355 billion) in the latest draft defence budget submitted to the national legislature this week.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
The new spending spree for the 2024 fiscal year, prepared by the PRC Ministry of Finance, was briefed to the 14th National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to the PRC Ministry of National Defense.
The increase is consistent with previous years, with Beijing previously approving a 7.7 per cent increase for the 1.55 trillion yuan defence budget in the 2023 fiscal year and a 7.1 percent increase for the 2022 defence budget.
“China has maintained reasonable and steady growth of its defence spending, consistent with its sound and steady economic and social development, to promote synchronised growth of defence capability and economic strength,” said 14th NPC second session spokesperson Lou Qinjian at a media conference during the week.
“In recent years, (the increase has been approved) to better safeguard our sovereignty, security, and development interest, to meet the need of military transformation with Chinese characteristics, and to better perform China’s international responsibilities and obligations as a major country.
“I wish to stress that compared with major military powers, such as the United States, China’s defence spending is quite low, whether as a percentage of GDP or total budget, or in terms of per citizen or per service member expenditure.
“We stay ready to share development opportunities with all, foster a new type of international relations featuring major respect, fairness and justice and win-win cooperation, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and make new contributions to the noble cause of peace and development.”
The People’s Liberation Army is striving to utilise new technology and integrate innovation into military training, according to Lieutenant Colonel Chen Song, PRC National People’s Congress deputy and Chinese PLA 73rd Group Army battalion commander.
Chen’s battalion has reportedly conducted collective research on the combat employment of unmanned platforms and applied for six patents.
“In the new era, military training always features new technology. At the front end of the combat system, we are not only the participants of technology application, but also the innovators of these technologies,” he said.
Earlier this year, PRC Central Military Commission chairman Xi Jinping approved orders to revise regulations on military legislation, to take effect on 1 March.
The revised regulations are expected to promote development of high-quality military legislation, advance implementation of military strategy, and strengthen military governance under 85 entries in 13 chapters.
Military focuses reportedly include innovation in national cyber security and unmanned systems.
