China raises defence spending to protect development interests
The Chinese government is constantly increasing its defence spending based on the interests of national development and the need to protect the country’s sovereignty and security – as stated by spokesperson for the 2nd session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) Lou Qingjian, TASS reports
Lou Qinjian told a press conference that every year when the NPC sessions are held, journalists pay attention to the issues of defence budget. In recent years, in order to protect national sovereignty, security and development interests, China has generally maintained a reasonable and steady increase in defence spending, while simultaneously reinforcing its defence and economic strength.
Lou Qinjian explained that China is increasing military spending to take into account ‘the needs of military transformation with Chinese characteristics’ in order to ‘more effectively fulfil its international responsibilities and obligations’. He stressed that compared with the US and other major military powers, China’s defence spending ‘has always been quite low’.
The official representative emphasised that China is steadily following the path of peaceful development and is ready to share development opportunities with other states. Lou Qingjian also noted that the PRC is seeking to build a new type of international relations ‘based on mutual respect, honesty, justice and win-win co-operation’.
In 2023, during the 1st session of the 14th National People’s Congress, China’s State Council announced a target for increasing defence expenditure which should rise by 7.2 percent to reach 1.553 trillion Yuan (about $224.85bn). In 2021 and 2022, the Chinese authorities decided to increase it by 6.8 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively.
