China raises defense budget by 7.2% to $232 billion

[ajay0]

China, which is the second highest spender on defense after the US, has allocated 1.67 trillion yuan (about $232 billion) for defence spending. With the largest navy on earth and developing naval capabilities on a fast pace, China is focussed on attaining its objective of incorporating democratic Taiwan into its fold as well as dominate the South China Sea at the expense of its neighbors. It also have territorial disputes with India, Japan, Vietnam and Bhutan.

China raises defence budget 7.2% as it pushes for global heft and regional tensions continue

Tensions with the U.S., Taiwan, Japan and neighbours who share claims to the crucial South China Sea are seen as furthering growth in increasingly high-tech military technologies from stealth fighters to aircraft carriers and a growing arsenal of nuclear weapons.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

Beijing: China on Tuesday announced a 7.2% increase in its defence budget, which is already the world's second-highest behind the United States at 1.6 trillion yuan (USD 222 billion), roughly mirroring the rise of the last year.

Tensions with the U.S., Taiwan, Japan and neighbours who share claims to the crucial South China Sea are seen as furthering growth in increasingly high-tech military technologies from stealth fighters to aircraft carriers and a growing arsenal of nuclear weapons.

 

[libre]

Thought this graphic may be useful to put the previous expenditures in perspective relative to world military expenditure.

I'm generally critical of media that paints second world military investment as irrational or conflict escalating, given the threat posed to China by the United States.

 

[Twilight Hue]

View attachment 89091
Thought this graphic may be useful to put the previous expenditures in perspective relative to world military expenditure.

I'm generally critical of media that paints second world military investment as irrational or conflict escalating, given the threat posed to China by the United States.

More like givin the threat China poses to Taiwan and its allies.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I worry about China's designs on Taiwan, whose people have made it clear that they want to remain an independent democracy. China should respect that and not shed blood in pursuit of "integrating" Taiwan into the CCP's authoritarian fold.

Other than that, I don't see the news of increased defense spending as surprising, given that China is now the world's second-biggest military and economic power. The US spends more on its military than the rest of the world spend on theirs combined, and many of its allies have shown on more than one occasion that they are not above joining it in military aggression and misguided interventionism.

Given that the US and its allies are now increasingly viewing China as a threat to their hegemony over the global order, it makes sense that China would bolster its defense budget. My main concern is not that China is increasing its military spending per se; it's that I don't trust the CCP not to use this spending to invade Taiwan and violate its sovereignty.

 

[Stevicus]

China, which is the second highest spender on defense after the US, has allocated 1.67 trillion yuan (about $232 billion) for defence spending. With the largest navy on earth and developing naval capabilities on a fast pace, China is focussed on attaining its objective of incorporating democratic Taiwan into its fold as well as dominate the South China Sea at the expense of its neighbors. It also have territorial disputes with India, Japan, Vietnam and Bhutan.

China raises defence budget 7.2% as it pushes for global heft and regional tensions continue

Tensions with the U.S., Taiwan, Japan and neighbours who share claims to the crucial South China Sea are seen as furthering growth in increasingly high-tech military technologies from stealth fighters to aircraft carriers and a growing arsenal of nuclear weapons.

economictimes.indiatimes.com

They could just as easily be taking a defensive posture, as perhaps they're not sure about the U.S. intentions or what direction we might go. It's safe to assume that they're well aware of the current political tensions within the U.S. these days. So, just in case some madman gets hold of the U.S. war machine, it's a prudent move to be prepared. After all, we have bases and ships operating right off their shores. They have nothing like that of that magnitude in our hemisphere. But we are vulnerable in that department, as China has been making some diplomatic inroads in the region. They could easily form military partnerships and alliances and establish a strong military presence in Latin America if we're not careful.

While we're so worried about watching the Taiwan Straits or North Korea, the Chinese could end up owning our whole backyard.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I worry about China's designs on Taiwan, whose people have made it clear that they want to remain an independent democracy. China should respect that and not shed blood in pursuit of "integrating" Taiwan into the CCP's authoritarian fold.

Other than that, I don't see the news of increased defense spending as surprising, given that China is now the world's second-biggest military and economic power. The US spends more on its military than the rest of the world spend on theirs combined, and many of its allies have shown on more than one occasion that they are not above joining it in military aggression and misguided interventionism.

Given that the US and its allies are now increasingly viewing China as a threat to their hegemony over the global order, it makes sense that China would bolster its defense budget. My main concern is not that China is increasing its military spending per se; it's that I don't trust the CCP not to use this spending to invade Taiwan and violate its sovereignty.

It begs the question.

Do people really want Communist China as a dominant superpower?

All it takes is a historical look at the USSR at the height of its power and how close to war things had gotton in the days of the Kennedy administration.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm generally critical of media that paints second world military investment as irrational or conflict escalating, given the threat posed to China by the United States.

What threat do you think USA poses to China,
other than interfering with China's intention
to invade Taiwan?

 

[esmith]

They could just as easily be taking a defensive posture, as perhaps they're not sure about the U.S. intentions or what direction we might go. It's safe to assume that they're well aware of the current political tensions within the U.S. these days. So, just in case some madman gets hold of the U.S. war machine, it's a prudent move to be prepared. After all, we have bases and ships operating right off their shores. They have nothing like that of that magnitude in our hemisphere. But we are vulnerable in that department, as China has been making some diplomatic inroads in the region. They could easily form military partnerships and alliances and establish a strong military presence in Latin America if we're not careful.

While we're so worried about watching the Taiwan Straits or North Korea, the Chinese could end up owning our whole backyard.

Developing a highly capable blue water navy is not "defensive" other than like WMD is "defensive"

 

[Revoltingest]

Developing a highly capable blue water navy is not "defensive" other than like WMD is "defensive"

It's common practice to refer to spending on
offensive capability to as "defense spending".
I've long been railing about this misnomer for
USA's "defense" spending.
And yes, China has offensive ambitions, eg,
Taiwan, S China Sea.

 

[libre]

What threat do you think USA poses to China,
other than interfering with China's intention
to invade Taiwan?

I take it that you know what the United States has done to other red countries in Asia.
Is it really hard to find reasons why China would be concerned about American warhawks?

 

[Twilight Hue]

What threat do you think USA poses to China,
other than interfering with China's intention
to invade Taiwan?

Interfering?

 

[libre]

Do people really want Communist China as a dominant superpower?

All it takes is a historical look at the USSR at the height of its power and how close to war things had gotton in the days of the Kennedy administration.

What do you think could realistically be done to prevent such, if we were to agree that it should be stopped?

 

[Twilight Hue]

What do you think could realistically be done to prevent such, if we were to agree that it should be stopped?

Logistics. Find better trade partners.

 

[Stevicus]

Developing a highly capable blue water navy is not "defensive" other than like WMD is "defensive"

So, are you saying that every country which develops a blue water navy has aggressive intentions?

 

[Revoltingest]

I take it that you know what the United States has done to other red countries in Asia.

More so than you are, I'll bet.

Is it really hard to find reasons why China would be concerned about American warhawks?

You lack specifics.
Moreover, you don't consider
China's violent expansion.

 

[Revoltingest]

Interfering?

It does appear that Sinophiles view
any interference with China's violent
expansion as a "threat" that makes
USA the aggressor.

 

[libre]

More so than you are, I'll bet.

If that is the case, why are you asking me to qualify why China views the United States as a threat? It would be insanity for them not to.

The US approach to China is one of containment. Framing any manoeuvring of China to not be contained as an act of aggressive foreign policy is slanted towards US hegemony rather than a neutral analysis.

'Sinophile' is a new one, but your attempt to tar me based on stances I don't actually have is not bothersome.

 

[Revoltingest]

If that is the case, why are you asking me to qualify why China views the United States as a threat?

To know your reasons.
There could be several.

It would be insanity for them not to.

The US approach to China is one of containment. Framing any manoeuvring of China to not be contained as an act of aggressive foreign policy is slanted towards US hegemony rather than a neutral analysis.

'Sinophile' is a new one, but your attempt to tar me based on stances I don't actually have is not bothersome.

Do you approve of China's taking of Tibet,
the S China Sea, & planned invasion of Taiwan?

 

[libre]

Logistics. Find better trade partners.

I wouldn't take any moral issue with plans to do so gradually, but I'm doubtful that the US would be in a position to do so in the near future.
There would be considerable political backlash for implementing such from almost every industry.

 

[libre]

Do you approve of China's taking of Tibet,
the S China Sea, & planned invasion of Taiwan?

I do not support what PRChina has done to Tibet - although I do not miss the vicious systems it abolished, that does not justify what replaced it.
I don't support PRChina invading Taiwan.
I also recognize that PRChina is not the only country with a valid claim to the South China Sea.