(Two Sessions Express) Wu Qian: China's increase in defense spending is the need to meet complex security challenges

　　China News Service, Beijing, March 10th. Wu Qian, spokesman for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force at the Fifth Session of the 13th National People's Congress, pointed out in an interview with the media on the 9th that China's increase in defense spending is not only a need to deal with complex security challenges, but also a The need to fulfill the responsibilities of a great power.

　　A reporter asked: According to reports, as the new crown pneumonia epidemic continues to raging around the world, China has made a good start in the "14th Five-Year Plan", with an annual GDP growth of 8.1%.

Please give further details on the arrangement of this year's defense budget.

　　"President Xi profoundly pointed out that a strong country must have a strong military, and a strong military can lead to national security. Development and security are two sides of the same body, and a prosperous country and a strong military are dialectical unity." Wu Qian said that the Chinese government adheres to the policy of coordinated development of national defense construction and economic construction. The scale of national defense expenditures shall be reasonably determined according to national defense needs and the level of national economic development.

In recent years, the Chinese government has maintained a reasonable and stable growth in defense expenditures in general while maintaining a sustained and healthy economic and social development, and promoted the simultaneous improvement of national defense and economic strength.

　　Wu Qian said that in 2022, the national fiscal budget will be 1,476.081 billion yuan (of which 1,450.450 billion yuan will be allocated by the central government), an increase of 7.1% over the previous year's budget execution.

The increased defense spending is mainly used for the following areas:

　　First, in accordance with the "14th Five-Year Plan" for military construction, we will make every effort to ensure the implementation of the planned tasks and accelerate the modernization of weapons and equipment.

　　The second is to implement the strategy of strengthening the army with talents in the new era, and promote the comprehensive transformation and upgrading of military personnel's ability, structure, development and management.

　　The third is to deepen the reform of national defense and the military, and ensure major reforms such as military policies and systems.

　　The fourth is to adapt to the level of national economic and social development, continue to improve the working, training and living conditions of the troops, and improve the living and welfare benefits of officers and soldiers.

　　Wu Qian pointed out that in accordance with the requirements of the National Defense Law, the Budget Law and other laws and regulations, the Chinese government's annual defense expenditure budget is included in the draft government budget, which is reviewed and approved by the People's Congress, managed and used in accordance with the law, and the total defense expenditure budget is announced to the public.

China has actively participated in the UN's military expenditure transparency system. Since 2008, it has submitted to the UN military expenditure reports for the previous fiscal year every year.

The so-called "invisible military spending" hyped by some external forces is nothing but a baseless fantasy.

　　"Compared with major military powers such as the United States, China's defense spending is still at a low level." The spokesman said that China's defense spending, whether as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), as a percentage of state fiscal expenditure, or The national defense expenditure per capita and the military defense expenditure per capita are relatively low.

　　He also said that China's increase in defense spending is not only a need to meet complex security challenges, but also a need to fulfill its responsibilities as a major power.

History has and will continue to prove that the Chinese military has always been a staunch force in defending national interests and world peace.

China's defense spending maintains moderate and steady growth, which is the general trend of the people and the general trend.

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