(Observation of the Two Sessions) Observing the “peaceful background” of China’s defense expenditure budget from two dimensions

　　China News Service, Beijing, March 8: Observing the "peaceful undertone" of China's defense expenditure budget from two dimensions

　　China News Service reporter Ma Shuaisha Madelin

　　China's defense expenditure budget issue is one of the focuses of the outside world during the annual two sessions.

The 2024 central and local budget draft shows that this year the central level will arrange a defense expenditure budget of 1.66554 billion yuan, an increase of 7.2%, the same as last year.

　　Regarding China’s defense expenditure budget, many representatives during the National Two Sessions said that to correctly understand the “peaceful background” of the defense expenditure budget, we need to observe it from two dimensions.

On March 8, the second session of the 14th National People's Congress held its second plenary session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Photo by China News Service reporter Yang Huafeng

　　First of all, the defense expenditure budget should not only look at the size of the numbers, but also what its purpose is and what its effects are.

　　Yang Mingjie, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and president of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Service that China has always pursued a defensive national defense policy and unswervingly followed the path of peaceful development.

Unlike some major military countries that use their fiscal budgets directly for the manufacture of war arms, China's defense expenditure is to respond to the complex security challenges it faces and to maintain regional stability and world peace.

　　The reporter found that China’s pursuit of peaceful development was more clearly expressed at this year’s Two Sessions.

For example, when answering the question about China's fourth aircraft carrier under construction, Yuan Huazhi, a deputy to the National People's Congress and political commissar of the People's Liberation Army Navy, emphasized that China's aircraft carrier is not built to compete with the United States, but to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect national rights and interests.

　　Lou Qinjian, spokesperson of the Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress, mentioned at the first press conference of the National People's Congress that China's overall maintenance of reasonable and stable growth in defense expenditure is to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests and adapt to military changes with Chinese characteristics. needs to better fulfill the international responsibilities and obligations of major powers.

　　Specifically, as a country with both land and sea, China itself faces complex land border and maritime rights and interests issues; as a responsible major country, China has been actively participating in international disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, especially in United Nations peacekeeping operations. The permanent member of the Security Council that sends the most peacekeepers.

"The improvement of China's military capabilities will benefit not only China, but also the world." Yang Mingjie said.

On March 4, the second session of the 14th National People's Congress held a preparatory meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The picture shows the delegation of the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force walking towards the Great Hall of the People.

Photo by China News Service reporter Jiang Qiming

　　The second dimension is that China’s defense expenditure budget is always controlled within a reasonable range.

　　Does China have a large defense spending budget?

According to Lou Qinjian, compared with military powers such as the United States, China's defense expenditure has always been relatively low, whether as a proportion of GDP, as a proportion of national fiscal expenditure, as well as per capita defense expenditures per citizen and per capita military personnel.

　　China Military Network's "Jun Zhengping Studio" issued an article on the 8th saying that since 2016, China's defense budget has maintained single-digit growth for nine consecutive years.

Looking at other countries, the defense budget growth of the United States, Japan, India and others has remained above double digits.

Taking the proportion of GDP as a proportion, China's defense expenditure has remained at a few percent all year round, which is far lower than the world average. In the United States, this proportion is above 3%.

In terms of per capita military expenditure, the United States is more than 15 times that of China.

　　The article stated that China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development and firmly pursued a defensive national defense policy. This is not an expedient measure, nor is it diplomatic rhetoric.

　　"In fact, compared with the needs of national defense construction and the international community's expectations of China, there is still a large gap in China's military development. We are making up for the gap in development, rather than posing a threat to other countries." Yang Mingjie said.

　　However, why are there still some foreign media hyping up the "China military threat theory"?

Yang Mingjie said that the core of this malicious speculation still lies in its wrong assessment of China’s military buildup intentions.

　　When elaborating on this year's revenue and expenditure policies, the 2024 central and local budget draft clarified the direction of national defense budget expenditures. It mentioned that comprehensively promote the modernization of national defense and the military, consolidate and improve the integrated national strategic system and capabilities, and study and improve the pensions and pensions for preferential treatment recipients. The dynamic adjustment mechanism for living subsidy standards supports the placement and employment of retired military personnel.

　　Regarding the speculation on so-called "invisible military expenditures", Yang Mingjie said that this is a "mirror-image" thinking of some Western countries, using their own practices to speculate on China. China's defense expenditure budget has always been moderate, reasonable, open and transparent.

　　As Lou Qinjian said, China is unswervingly pursuing the path of peaceful development and is willing to share development opportunities with other countries, build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation, promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and contribute to the noble cause of peace and development of mankind. Make new contributions to the cause.

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