China slows military spending surge and...
China announced a significant decline in the growth of its expenditures in the defense area.}
The spokesman of the National People's Congress, Li Zhaoxing said that the defense budget increased by just 7.5% in 2010.
Li said the total planned spending for the year is U.S. $ 77,900 million.
This is the first time in more than 20 years that the figure is below 10%. In 2009 the increase was slightly lower at 15 percentage points.
In the past, had argued that China needed to increase its military spending to modernize its armed forces.
Concern
However, other countries in the region and the U.S. are concerned about what they consider is the lack of clarity about China's military objectives.
Centron correspondent in Beijing, Cinte Lou said it is not known with certainty why, for the first time in over two decades, the annual defense budget of China fell below double digits.
"The Chinese government belt tightening could estars after the global economic slowdown, or do not want to scare your neighbors with another significant increase in defense spending," said Bristow.
Li Zhaoxing said that China is now more transparent about its military budget, but gave no details on why the increase in 2010 stood at half that this year, our correspondent added.
"And just to prove the limits of China's transparency in regard to the military area, Li Zhaoxing refused to answer a question about whether the country was developing its first aircraft carrier," he said.
Additional info: @ Noticias Minuto a Minuto.
The spokesman of the National People's Congress, Li Zhaoxing said that the defense budget increased by just 7.5% in 2010.
Li said the total planned spending for the year is U.S. $ 77,900 million.
This is the first time in more than 20 years that the figure is below 10%. In 2009 the increase was slightly lower at 15 percentage points.
In the past, had argued that China needed to increase its military spending to modernize its armed forces.
Concern
However, other countries in the region and the U.S. are concerned about what they consider is the lack of clarity about China's military objectives.
Centron correspondent in Beijing, Cinte Lou said it is not known with certainty why, for the first time in over two decades, the annual defense budget of China fell below double digits.
"The Chinese government belt tightening could estars after the global economic slowdown, or do not want to scare your neighbors with another significant increase in defense spending," said Bristow.
Li Zhaoxing said that China is now more transparent about its military budget, but gave no details on why the increase in 2010 stood at half that this year, our correspondent added.
"And just to prove the limits of China's transparency in regard to the military area, Li Zhaoxing refused to answer a question about whether the country was developing its first aircraft carrier," he said.
Additional info: @ Noticias Minuto a Minuto.
Related Articles:
-
Siempre he pensado que cualquier profecía sobre el fin del mundo era mentira. Pero... Read Full Story »
Comments
