Increased defense spending is for national safety and guaranteed daily army operations of PLA in contributing to China's economic development instead of being directed at Taiwan or the US, said PLA deputies at the 4th Session of the 9th National People's Congress (NPC).
Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng told that 17.7 percent raise of defense spending is to be chalked in his financial budget report delivered. But it has become a news item of great concern in China and abroad.
According to Senior PLA officers with regard to China's plan for increased defense spending, increased fees will be used to boost modernization of national defense and improve PLA's weaponry on one hand and raise the remuneration of army men and PLA's necessary expense on the other. An apparent fact is that in view of its GNP ratio and per-capita amount China's defense spending has been the lowest of the world irrespective of a 17.7 percent increase in defense spending, said General Gu Shanqing and General Zhong Shengqin said at the meeting.
PLA must safeguard peace, national safety and economic construction and must have improved armor. Increased military budget can hardly meet the demand of various tasks we are facing in addition to lots of capital to be used to ensure the daily life of army men and raised pay for men and ex-servicemen and officers living on pension, said General Gu.
(People's Daily 03/07/2001)
