Interesting reports out of China on projected defense spending: only a 7.5 percent increase, the smallest in two decades, according to Chinese officials. The NYT reports that Chinese budget documents peg 2010 defense spending at $78 billion, an increase of $5.4 billion over last year’s defense budget.
Now, there has always been much debate over the veracity of Chinese defense spending claims and various sources put the annual amounts considerably higher than Beijing’s official figures. That same NYT article says this year is the first time in 21 years that the rate of defense spending has fallen below double digits. Spending had risen an average of 12.9 percent annually from 1996 to 2008.
China is investing mightily in its own domestic stimulus package that has so far gotten the country through the recent economic turmoil in amazingly good shape. China’s economy grew at around 10 percent last year. Like most centrally planned economies, when the Chinese want to stimulate demand they do it through massive infrastructure projects, the colossal Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River being a good example.
China is spending billions on its high speed rail network, highways, airports, housing, etc. All of which is to say that the slowed rate of defense spending increase, may be a one-off phenomenon.
– Greg
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Guns vs Butter.
Marie Osmond go-go boots and submachine guns? Was this picture taken on the set of a new Austin Powers movie?
There are good in math. Their the sleeping dragon of today modern world meaning they can be competative and dangerous if threaten.
.. and most of them are more fluent in the English language than roland.
I've never found defense spending so arousing. If I was a supervillain, I'd have them guarding my volcano base.
It is worth noting that while Chinese spending is still rising significant (both in absolute terms and on a per capita basis) that the size of the active duty military force in China is actually shrinking (to one smaller than that of the United States despite the fact that China has about four times as many men of military service age) as it transitions from a largely conscript based force to a better equipped, largely professional force.
This is good news for those who are concerned about Chinese expansionist tendencies, because a conquest oriented military that would occupy significant foreign territory needs many boots on the ground, not just improvement in weapons technology.
Maybew due to their spying theyve saved money on some defense projects.
Or its thier stimulus for own nation.
Odd they would slow defense growth.
Very Odd, the calm before the storm?
Picture taken at the 60th anniversary parade – and boy oh boy if it really wasn't just a fantasy. Even potential foe wanted to be captured.
You wonder why they are successful? The government there is actually spending the money on real projects unlike here where they are shoring up the base and holding a war chest for November. Mark my words. It is sad.
There should also be thought given for how "western" economists measure economic growth. How soon we forget how the Soviets were going to pass the US economy sometimes during the 70's because, well "look and all the dams and roads and factories they are building"
If China keeps it up I think they will emerge as a super power then the expected 2020 timeline…. if only the US would start investing in our infrastructure again…
Holy crap!!! I would love to get captured by them beauties.
"The government there is actually spending the money on real projects unlike here where they are shoring up the base and holding a war chest for November. "
Long-term planning – the big advantage of not having to stand for re-election.
Did there reports just say "reducing budget growth", or did it actually hint at any areas of the total budget in particular not being expanded?
Possibly they've started a PAK FA piggy bank. That's a nice thought….
From history, we know that long term planning doesn't work very well with or without elections. Predicting the future is hard.
As Chinese population gets richer and fatter they will become more and more like a Western country. Build more Mcdonalds pronto!
You are ruining about your kapitalistik spending being worse that Chinas and you capitalism is just forming into ChinaKapitalism. I wonder how you feel when it really starts ending up in random local boss this and that pockets insteads of defined mafia leaders pockets. I wonder..
You mean China actually spends less money when it has less money to spend. I guess China and my house have something in common after all. We both try to figure out how to stay out of massive debt.
I understand that we have to spend money to get out of issues, sometimes we have to go into debt. But going into debt more when times are good? Who does that? I mean other than most of the western world apparently.
Check out the clips on Utube. Chinese mIlitary parade
They pick the girls and the guys for their demonstration units for uniform height, and attractiveness and spend hours practicing just to look nice a pretty for the parades. The soldiers are trained posture wise by placing needle like attachments to their collars poking them under the jaw, forcing their heads up. I don't think that kind of trainng would go over here. I watched the clips and was reminded of the opening ceremony at the Olympics where they placed the real girl singer behind a screen because she was not pretty enough, and had a prettier girl lipsync for the cameras. Its all for show.
chinese warplanes :
http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&am…
chinese warplanes :
http://www.google.com/search?q=site:defensetech.o…
chinese warplanes :
http://www.google.com/search?q=site:defensetech.o…
shenyang fighter :
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Adefensetech…