China steps up defence budget to ‘prepare for armed confrontation’
Beijing has increased its defence expenditure by 6.6% for the coming year, even while many other nations are slashing budgets to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic that China unleashed on the world.
Worryingly, Chairman Xi Jinping said the upcoming budget of CNY1.27 trillion ($179 billion) was necessary ‘to step up preparations for armed combat’.
This amount is some CNY78 billion more than last year’s CNY1.19 trillion defence budget. To put this in perspective, the actual increment of this year’s increase is almost identical to the complete defence budget of Taiwan for 2020.
Xi also praised the military for effectively dealing
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Defence Notes
-
New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia
This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.
-
UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”
Rachel Reeves announced port upgrades, protected budgets for innovation and investment in novel technologies.
-
Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees
The Australian Budget was marked by tax cuts and a looming general election which led to little hope that there would be a substantial defence boost even with a big bill for nuclear submarines due.
-
Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market
The communications company Gilat launched its new Gilat Defense division at the Satellite 2025 expo, with future solutions aimed at US military customers.
-
Collins MAPS Gen II to equip US DoD watercraft
US services have already conducted multiple tests with military maritime systems fitted with the system.
-
OCCAR expects substantial boost in programme numbers “in the coming months”
Europe’s Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) “has to establish itself…as a centre of excellence for cooperative Defence Equipment Programmes” in the face of growing threats and the need for rearmament, according to the organisation’s chairman.