Originally published on March 5, 2014
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China announced its largest increase in military spending in three years on Wednesday, spurring fears and suspicion in Washington and neighbouring countries.
Beijing has allocated 808.2 billion yuan, or roughly $130 billion, to its official defence budget this year, marking a 12.2 percent increase. Many analysts believe much of China's military spending likely takes place outside the official budget and estimate the actual figure to be closer to $200 billion.
China's official 2012 military budget was already larger than those of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam combined, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The United States spent $682 billion on its military in 2012.
China justifies its military expansion by claiming that peace can only be maintained through military might. "Certain countries have been selling the idea of China as a major threat," said Fu Ying, a spokesman for China's parliament, the National People's Congress. "Based on our history and experience, we believe that peace can only be maintained by strength."
The International Institute for Strategic Studies, a United Kingdom-based think tank, estimated that China has 2,285,000 active duty troops, 7,430 main battle tanks, 2,900 armoured personnel carriers and 13,269 artillery and air defence guns. China's air force has 2,244 combat aircraft and 840 helicopters.
Beijing has also been strengthening its maritime capabilities. Its fleet currently consists of 211 patrol vessels, 76 principal combat vessels and 61 tactical submarines. China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, went into service in 2012.
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