China to boost military budget by 10%

Good for the Chinese.

Whatever Abe can do, the Chinese can do bigger.

This is not good for anyone but the military industry and investors in all countries engaged in arms escalation, as it takes money away from improving the living conditions of the general population. The US and Japan are prime examples. Huge spending on offence/defence instead of spending on education, child poverty, alternative energy infrastructure, etc.

Just who is going to attempt to attack China, Russia, US, SK, NK, Japan, EU, please there is way too much business deals and investments tied into China that it is ridiculous and foolish to even bother a military buildup. The only reason a country builds up arms is if it feels it is being threatened by forces greater than themselves, but in this day and age that mentality is not sound. If that was the case, either the US or Russia would have done it along time ago when both had the capability to divide and conquer, instead the Soviet Union collapsed and that left the US the top dog but did the US go after spoils of war? No instead in the 90's it backed China to join the world trade organization, and even encouraged other countries to invite China to participate as source of trading partner. So again who is the threat?

The Chinese still have a ways to go before they catch up to the U.S. in military spending.

Let's have another arms race

'Let's have another arms race'

The US will take some catching. The US spends the same on its military as the 9 biggest spending countries following it combined.

Let's have another arms race

The US will take some catching. The US spends the same on its military as the 9 biggest spending countries following it combined.

China will do its best to quickly catch up - can't expect anything less from the world's 2nd biggest economy! Ganbatte! がんばって！

'China will do its best to quickly catch up - can't expect anything less from the world's 2nd biggest economy! Ganbatte!'

As the old Chinese proverb goes, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. There will be arms manufacturers around the world slavering like dogs if China manages even half of that distance.

Just another example of China's "peaceful rise". Wish my stocks grew at 10% annually. As for catching up to the US, maybe they should focus on having a standard of living above Serbia.

China. Once considered an inferior. My, my, the tables have turned. An economic giant able to generously finance its military each & every fisacal term. Japan's bubble has long bursted & still relies on the US umbrella. When will the Japanese wake up?

@Wc626 You have no proof the China bubble isn't about to burst.

The world includig JAPAN helped China get off it's economic knees when their public toilets wetre holes in the ground. The US suppotrted China's ebtry into the community of global trading partners thinking that a higher standard of living would create a bigger middle class and the Chinrese Communist Party Dictatorshop woud hae to move towards democracy and liberalizatiion. Guess what? China took the gift and became the wotld's sercond biggest vecominic power.But where are the middle clas? Where is the libealizaion and democracy? Instead China has strengthned it's authoritarian grip on the country and directed it's wealth towards building the biggest military machine in Asia. And now China boasts of replacing the United States as the dominant strategic power in East Asia, it bullies it;s smaller Asian neighbors in an effort to take their territories and expand it's vnaval control over the East and South China Seas. So yea, China is a threat. Worse, they contiue to want to be a bigger one. The only thing that's going to stop them is when, not if, their economic "rise" bursts. And that's already peaking from beyond the horizon. All the wealthy Chinese want to move out of China. I can't blame them.

To say that Japan or the US had helped China in the past and seemingly China should be forever in their debts is ridiculous. Every country in the world was helped by another country at some point. It is quite naïve to think that China would “move towards democracy and liberalization”. Though, I must say China has improved tremendously and possessed wealth faster than any country in the history of the world. It has very little to do with the helps from other countries, but its own people’s determination to succeed, its people struggling for wealth and prosperity that got China to where it is now. Without the intelligent and hard-working people, China can never succeed no matter how much money pouring into the country. Fear of China’s military expansion is unfounded. The increase in military budget is not out of line considering the size of the population, size of the country, and many chaotic crises around the world. Clearly that China needs large military budget to protect itself from outside forces as China has learned from history. China leaders travel around the world to promote business, but the largest military spender, the US, travels to promote military alliance. So, which is more fearful? We should worry more about those countries that promote wars than the ones just trying to do business like China. Even in the US people see China as an economic risk rather than a security risk. Yes, China is a threat only for those who have threaten China. Does China care about wealthy Chinese moving out of the country? Not at all. in fact, the government has encouraged them. Why do you think Xi sent best wishes during Chinese New Year to all Chinese around the world? Because no matter where they are they are still Chinese. One benefit of being Chinese living outside the country is they can take a high class tour in China at a substantially reduced rate. I really can’t blame them to be spoiled.

OssanAmerica Mar. 05, 2015 - 02:57AM JST Instead China has strengthned it's authoritarian grip on the country and directed it's wealth towards building the biggest military machine in Asia.

China has 1.4 billion people, and they are spending approx. $200 billion per year in total military spending. Japan with the population of $126 million is spending $46 billion per year. The facts are China has 11 times greater population than Japan. If you compare China and Japan based on per capita spending, China should be spending around $500 billion annually on defense to be comparable to what Japan is spending.

'Just another example of China's "peaceful rise". Wish my stocks grew at 10% annually. As for catching up to the US, maybe they should focus on having a standard of living above Serbia.'

If China's military build-up shows a belligerent nation, what does America's gargantuan military show? The thousands dead in Afghanistan and Iraq are testimony to the fact it isn't just for show. America's rise to the top after WW2 has seen almost constant wars, bombings and interference in other countries governments ( including removing democratically elected leaders ). China is still a developing country. Shouldn't a developed country like the US focus on its appalling poverty rate and terrible health care system rather than a military which dwarfs other top military powers by an enormous difference?

You Chinese apologists are a sad group of people. The only reason China would have for the level of military spending it has is to try and take some islands by force or to kill some Taiwanese. The US needs a much higher amount of defence because it will be fighting an away game, throwing the Chinese back.

Because no matter where they are they are still Chinese.

I think this was more of a veiled threat that no matter what country you go to or how many generations pass, the CCP can still find you.

'You Chinese apologists are a sad group of people. The only reason China would have for the level of military spending it has is to try and take some islands by force or to kill some Taiwanese. The US needs a much higher amount of defence because it will be fighting an away game, throwing the Chinese back.'

I agree. It would be awful if China built up its military to such a level that it could illegally invade other countries causing tens of thousands of deaths. We don't want countries like that.

@Jimizo Criticism of the US noted. Now I hope you agree that China should not become a second US and that means keeping its defense spending where it is plus more honesty about it and with less sabre rattling with smaller neighbors.

The countries of Asia and the rest of the world need to unite to balance the regime in Beijing's military power. This regime has a terrible human rights record too.

@scipantheist I'd love to see the US stop invading countries with its monstrosity of a military and see an end to China's bully boy tactics in Asia. Saying that, it would sound a bit rich for the US to tell China to scale back its military spending when Washington's absolutely dwarfs that of China, paying for bases all across the planet. Could the US tell China not to build up a huge military and use it to threaten other countries or invade them to get its own way with a straight face?

@Jimizo The invasions the US has launched of late have been against weak governments with no allies. Not ideological enemies. Also China has profited more from them in terms of oil trade. The US spends approximately twice the amount of China per GDP, but we have two fronts to maintain (Europe and Asia) and they are much farther and therefore difficult to defend. Also we can only guess what China actually spends since they choose to keep it hidden. So IMO the US is justified in telling China not to threaten democratic Phillipines because they didn't pay the proper tithe to the "Middle Kingdom".

scipantheist, tell me something, when was the US ever not at war? When was the last time China was at war? Whenever China went to war, it was always because of provocation and it always pulled back and never made it a long and constant war. Middle East would not have been in this crisis and the IS would not have existed to cause trouble around the world had the US just minded its own business. It is the US self-interest to promote wars and not at all that other countries need defence or protection. The world would be a better place without the US interference. You said, “Also we can only guess what China actually spends since they choose to keep it hidden,” you must be naïve to think everything is above board with the US. At least if something is hidden in China it never affects other countries, but I can’t say that for the US. After the US finished damaging a country it would always be China that went in to help that country. Through the UN it is always China that tries to prevent the US from invading other countries, some successful some not. Surely people in the US are living well on the blood and sweat of other countries, so at least Chinese people have a clean conscience. The US spends in military four or five times more than that of China and you think that is justified. US caused pain, death and suffering in other countries should constantly be on your mind.

you must be naïve to think everything is above board with the US.

We have something called a free press in the US. Lots of questions are asked about the total level of government spending such that there is nowhere for the military spending to hide.

After the US finished damaging a country it would always be China that went in to help that country.

If by "help" you mean plunder, yeah China has done that well. It is plain fact that China has the most oil contracts with Iraq.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/world/middleeast/china-reaps-biggest-benefits-of-iraq-oil-boom.html?_r=0

Also the Chinese are a joke when it comes to their civic mindedness:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Giving_Index

Through the UN it is always China that tries to prevent the US from invading other countries, some successful some not.

Merely more examples of Chinese criminal activities propping up dictators like Assad and Iran's mullahs.

Surely people in the US are living well on the blood and sweat of other countries

What blood and sweat would that be? We spend money on blowing things up in the ME, not make money.

The US spends in military four or five times more than that of China and you think that is justified.

As I said in my previous comment, the US has to deter Chinese aggression on the other side of the planet.

US caused pain, death and suffering in other countries should constantly be on your mind.

What should be on your mind is that that your glorious leader Xi issued a threat just today against the tiny island of Taiwan. Peking thinks that it is their place to tell Taiwan what they should do in the future. I'll give you that China has not had many actual wars. Maybe that is because they know they can't win them. But when you claim all of East Asia, someone has to be prepared to throw you back to your rightful borders.

scipantheist,

“We have something called a free press in the US. Lots of questions are asked about the total level of government spending such that there is nowhere for the military spending to hide.”

Free press means nothing when there is a cover up. Can you reveal confidential military information without prosecution in the US, just yes or no? That will be the day when press freedom overrides military secrets.

“ If by "help" you mean plunder, yeah China has done that well. It is plain fact that China has the most oil contracts with Iraq.”

China is doing business; it helps those countries build infrastructures in exchange for their resources because the US already ruined their economic livelihood. Why didn’t the US stop China from benefiting from those countries when the US is supposed to be the protector of those countries? The US even helps protect the oil pipelines for China, do you know that? The US ruined their countries and has no money rebuild those countries so it has to count on China to do that.

“Merely more examples of Chinese criminal activities propping up dictators like Assad and Iran's mullahs.”

China tried to stop the bloodshed and you call that “criminal activities”. Do you still remember the story about the US illegal invasion of Iraq looking for non-existent WMD? Tell me how many people died there? How would you feel if your family got brown up into pieces? Yea, you said it yourself, “We spend money on blowing things up in the ME, not make money, “ that is the worst kind of the criminal. Think China is making money and helping those countries along the way while the US is making wars and killing people, who is worse?

“As I said in my previous comment, the US has to deter Chinese aggression on the other side of the planet.”

If you do a careful research you will find out that China was only responding to other countries’ provocation and aggression. Not an incident that China acted out of aggression but only to protect itself. Naïve people tend to believe in the press without questioning.

“What should be on your mind is that that your glorious leader Xi issued a threat just today against the tiny island of Taiwan.”

Very interesting when you said “Xi issued a threat,” please check your reading comprehension. Can you give me the source of that claim? Here is according to Taiwan News, “Xi said a day earlier at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) that cross-strait relations have developed steadily and peacefully in the past eight years with the help of the ‘1992 Consensus.’" And, "We are firmly confident that the peaceful growth of cross-strait relations is a historical trend that can be neither resisted nor reversed," Li added in his speech, a major policy address for the year ahead (Reuters). Any of these speeches considered to be a threat to you? You are right that China will stay within its border because it has no imperialist attitude as seen from the non-interference and peaceful rise policy, unlike the US. Next time when you read the news about innocent people got killed by the US drone or soldier, recheck your conscience.

Taiwan is not, and never should be part of China - if China's stance towards Taiwan is what you call "steady and peaceful" I will take a steaming plate of no thank you.

@Flowers

"[Taiwan independence forces] are the biggest hindrance to the peaceful development of cross-strait ties, the biggest threat to cross-strait peace and stability and therefore should be resolutely opposed."

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1729689/xi-jinping-sounds-alert-taiwan-independence

Proven as demonstrated. Next time you think the CCP has morals when it allows no independent press, recheck your conscience.

Tell me anywhere in the article that led you to believe that Xi’s remark meant a threat to Taiwan when “Speaking to political advisers from the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League and the All-China Confederation of Taiwan Compatriots, Xi said the "1992 consensus" was the political foundation for Beijing and Taipei to build trust and hold talks to continue peaceful development of cross-strait relations. ‘Peace is valuable and should be safeguarded,’ Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.” Don’t try to create something out of thin air to match your own biased idea. Again, think about your conscience when you watch the news about US killing people in other countries.

@flowers China offers no vision for the future. Only censorship and thuggery. Taiwan is right to escape from this. Think about your conscience for mindlessly endorsing Xi's policies when you have no idea what criminal behavior he has been up to.