China's military spending returns to pre-pandemic levels

China's defence budget up 7.1 per cent this year, higher than the expected GDP growth of 5.5 per cent. The announcement by Premier Li Keqiang at the annual meeting of the National People's Congress. Beijing is preparing "legal" instruments to justify potential military operations. 

Rome (AsiaNews) - China will increase its military budget by 7.1%. The announcement came during the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), which closes tomorrow. The increase in military spending is higher than the annual GDP growth target, set by the government at 5.5%. It should be noted that in his report to the NPC on the government's activities, Premier Li Keqiang made no mention of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

The one set by the government is the biggest increase in military spending since 2019. In the past two pandemic years, China's defence budget growth has been less than 7%. In 2022, the total amount will be 1,450 billion yuan (about 208 billion euros). Meanwhile, the national economy is plagued by reduced consumption and the real estate crisis.

For some time, China has strengthened its troop training plans and intensified military exercises targeting Taiwan. The militarisation of the South China Sea is another major concern of the Chinese government, which is also uneasy about armed skirmishes with India on the Himalayan border.

Li Keqiang told the NPC that the armed forces would have to fight "firmly and flexibly" if necessary, safeguarding "national sovereignty, security and development interests".

Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian listed the four main uses of the military budget: to carry out significant projects; renovate weapon systems; and improve training and welfare of soldiers. The Chinese military is developing a new generation of stealth fighter jets, aircraft carriers and hypersonic missiles.

Military experts believe that official statements on Chinese military spending are opaque and that the actual amount is much higher. As usual, there are no detailed categories regarding the defence budget in the draft national budget. Despite this, China continues to claim that its military spending in relation to GDP is below the world average.

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