On March 6, Tan Kefei, spokesman for the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Forces at the First Session of the Fourteenth National People's Congress, was interviewed by the media.
A reporter asked, the world today has entered a period of turmoil and change, with a marked increase in instability and uncertainty, and the United States and other countries have significantly increased their military budgets.
Please brief us on China's defense budget arrangement this year.
Tan Kefei said that the Chinese government adheres to the policy of coordinated development of national defense and economic construction, and reasonably determines the scale of national defense expenditures based on national defense needs and the level of national economic development.
In recent years, while the economy and society have sustained and healthy development, they have maintained a moderate increase in national defense expenditures, and promoted the simultaneous improvement of national defense and economic strength.
Tan Kefei said that in 2023, the national general public budget arranges national defense expenditures of 1.58 trillion yuan, an increase of 7.2% over the previous year's implementation.
The increased national defense expenditure is mainly used in the following aspects: First, in accordance with the "14th Five-Year Plan" plan for military construction, comprehensively strengthen military training and preparations, and consolidate and improve the integrated national strategic system and capabilities.
The second is to speed up the construction of modern logistics, implement major national defense technology and weaponry projects, and accelerate the transformation of technology into combat effectiveness.
The third is to consolidate and expand the achievements of national defense and military reforms, ensure the implementation of reform measures in important areas and urgently needed policies and systems, and improve the level of military governance.
The fourth is to adapt to the level of the country's economic and social development, and continue to improve the work, training and living conditions of the troops.
Tan Kefei said that China adheres to the path of peaceful development, pursues a defensive national defense policy, and actively participates in the UN's military expenditure transparency system. Since 2008, China has submitted a military expenditure report for the previous fiscal year to the UN every year.
Compared with major military powers such as the United States, China's defense expenditure is relatively low in terms of the proportion of its gross domestic product (GDP), national fiscal expenditure, per capita national defense expenditure, and per capita military expenditure.
China's limited defense expenditure is entirely for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.
(The source of Sui Zhiyuan's video is the Ministry of National Defense Network)
Responsible editor: [Luo Pan]