India, China boost defence budgets
March 5th, 2008 - by Nazia VasiFour days after India, the world’s fourth largest military, raised its defence spending by 10% to $26.5 billion for 2008-09 or about 2.5% of its GDP, China, the world’s largest standing force upped its defence budget by 18% to a whopping $58.4 billion, or 1.4% of its GDP. What Beijing did not mention is that India’s military expenses at $26.18 billion (Rs 105,600 crores) is less than half of China’s expenditure in absolute terms, although it might seem higher as a percentage of GDP.
The spurt in defence spending also comes at a time when China claims parts of Arunachal Pradesh (90,000 square kms), in India’s far East to be part of China. China is now also considered a formidable force by the US, who believe that Beijing’s real military spending is two or three times the announced figure.
Justifying the jump in defence budget ‘because other countries were doing it too’, Jiang Enzhu, spokesman for the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature said “military expenses accounted for 14.1 per cent of India’s overall spending while China spent just 7.2 per cent of its total budget on defence. Developed countries spent a lot more with the United States allocating 4.6 per cent of its GDP to defence and Britain spending three per cent of its GDP, he said. The figure for France is 2 per cent and Russia 2.63 per cent of GDP.
Adding, “China’s limited armed forces are totally for the purpose of safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”. “China will not pose a threat to any country.”
In its annual report to Congress on the Chinese military, released on Monday, the Pentagon said the outside world had limited knowledge of the motivation behind China’s accelerating buildup and the capabilities it was developing. “The lack of transparency in China’s military and security affairs poses risks to stability by increasing the potential for misunderstanding and miscalculation,” it said. For which Beijing criticized the Pentagon report, saying it distorted the facts.
Jiang also claimed that the increase in budget is necessary as the situation in the Taiwan Strait was “grim and complex” and called on the Taiwanese president, Chen Shui-bian, to halt what Beijing described as unacceptable moves toward independence. Jiang also said increase in spending this year was purely defensive and would allow for upgraded equipment along with better pay and benefits for service personnel.
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March 6th, 2008 at 3:24 am
I don’t understand why China’s defense spending is constantly under the spotlight. Nobody says anything about the US. Nobody talks about India. Occasionally you hear about Russia. Why? Are people assuming that democracies are more peaceful and less menacing? People are either foolish or extremely hypocritical.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:51 am
We are not assuming that Democracies are more peaceful, going by the state inspired communial clashes in India, and India - Pakistan tensions they are not, but when China increases their defence at a time when they claim parts of India to be China, and they already have territorial issues with Taiwan, a 18% jump in budget for the world’s largest army becomes important to highlight.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:29 am
But doesn’t India claim Aksai Chin to be part of India? Plus I was talking about western media, not Indian media.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
According to the constitution of India, Aksai Chin is still an integral part of India, as is Arunachal Pradesh.
March 8th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Exactly. China claims AP, India claims AC. Hence my initial question: Why China? Why not the US or anybody else?
March 10th, 2008 at 9:38 am
March 17th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Defence spending have also increased as both countries are trying to modernise & purchase new arms. The interesting comparision would lie in what ratio of the annual defence budget contributes towards the paying of salaries & admin!
Lets also not forget that a stronger military might is reflective & a strong political statement. China is not focussed merely on Taiwan/India - but has to be up there to stand up to the USA
March 19th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Neither askai chin nor arunachal pradesh belong to china’s territory china has occupied kashmir AC by 1962. so it is not like india is claiming for AC & china for AP. you may be not knowing history well Pffefer.
For eg:- canada and america were having dispute for minnesota province under americas influence on which canada is asking its right and america is claiming for winnipeg province under canadas influence and canada and america has gone for war, canada occupied half the part of washington and because of cease fire proceses pressure from international community it has gone under canada’s control and remained dissputed now after 50 years canada is asking its right over the montana provice under americas control. now agian at the time of negotiation canada has to leave its control over washington which was never disputed part but in war conditions occupied by canada but now they dont want to talk on washington and trying to resolve the dispute by asking give minnesota and take montana.
Now see the example more clearly
For eg:- china and india were having dispute for south tibet province under indias influence on which china is asking its right and india is claiming for north tibet province under chinas influence and china and india has gone for war, china occupied half the part of kashmir(now askai chin) and because of cease fire proceses pressure from international community it has gone under china’s control and remained dissputed now after 50 years china is asking its right over the arunachal pradesh provice an indian state having hindu population, culture, tradition. now agian at the time of negotiation china has to leave its right over askai chin which was never disputed part but in war conditions occupied by china but now they dont want to talk on askai chin and trying to resolve dispute by give tibet and take arunachal pradesh.